PHOENIX – Even with a nearly new lineup, the Houston Astros always seem to have their way with Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Daniel Hudson.
"I don't really know how to explain it," Hudson said after the Diamondbacks' 9-1 loss to the Astros on Monday night. "I have never really pitched well against them. That team has my number I guess."
Hudson allowed seven runs — four earned — on a career-high 11 hits over a career-low three innings. He struck out only one, matching a season low.
In three career starts against the Astros, Hudson (11-8) was allowed 11 earned runs on 26 hits in 16 innings for a 6.19 ERA. He has a 3.10 ERA against everyone else.
This latest struggle came against a lineup that featured two players with fewer than 20 career at-bats and four players with fewer than 100.
"They don't have a ton of experience over there but they did a good job of battling it, battling me and making me throw pitches over the plate," Hudson said. "Sometimes with inexperienced teams like that you can get them to chase bad pitches but they didn't do that."
Henry Blanco homered in the seventh for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped four of five. J.D. Martinez's three-run homer off Hudson (11-8) gave Houston a 3-0 lead four batters into the game. Carlos Corporan added an RBI double later in the inning and Rodriguez hit a run-scoring single to left to make it 5-0.
The Astros added two more runs in the second on an RBI double by Matt Downs and a run-scoring infield single from Clint Barmes.
"You can't take these guys lightly," said Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. "They have been swinging the bats like this. They are very aggressive and they find plenty of holes."
Paredes added his two-run single in the sixth off Zach Duke to put Houston in front 9-0, matching the number of runs the Astros had scored in their past three games combined.
Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (8-8) held the Diamondbacks to two hits over six scoreless innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
Blanco homered off Jeff Fulcchino with one out in the seventh to make it 9-1.
NOTES: Hudson's previous shortest start was a four-inning stint against Milwaukee on July 4 in an eventual 8-6 Diamondbacks win. ... Three of Houston's first four hitters — J.B. Shuck, Jose Altuve and Martinez — entered the game with fewer than 100 career at-bats combined. SS Jimmy Paredes, the Astros' sixth-place hitter, came in with 18 career at-bats. ... Shuck was making his second career start. ... Blanco's home run was his first since May 16. ... Arizona LHP Joe Saunders' rough start Saturday got a little better on Monday. SS Willie Bloomquist belatedly was charged an error on a play originally ruled a fielder's choice, meaning one of the four runs Saunders allowed now is unearned. ... RHP Jason Marquis makes his second start for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. In his first start since being acquired from Washington on July 30, Marquis allowed eight runs — 7 earned — on 10 hits and a walk over four innings against San Francisco. ... Astros RHP Jordan Lyles will seek his second career win on Tuesday. The 20-year-old rookie, the youngest player in the majors, earned his first win in his 13th career start on August 3 against Cincinnati.
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