Houston, TX – Matt Dominguez's two-run single in the seventh inning proved to be the difference, as the Houston Astros held on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-6, on Sunday afternoon.
Justin Maxwell had doubled in a pair of runs in front of Dominguez, whose base hit put Houston up by three. Domonic Brown plated two with a double in the eighth for Philadelphia, but Wilton Lopez retired the final two hitters in the frame before working out of trouble in the ninth by getting Carlos Ruiz on a game-ending groundout with two men aboard for his sixth save of the season.
Philadelphia entered this series riding a wave of momentum, arriving at Minute Maid Park on a seven-game winning streak that put the club back into playoff contention. But the Phillies dropped three of four to the MLB-worst Astros and are now four games out in the race for the National League's second wild-card spot.
Scott Moore and Carlos Corporan both homered off Philadelphia starter Roy Halladay. Moore blasted a two-run homer in the third and Corporan added a solo shot in the sixth for Houston, which won back-to-back games for the first time since Aug. 10-11.
Wesley Wright (2-2) earned the win in relief of starter Jordan Lyles, who gave up four runs on five hits and walked four in five innings.
Down 4-3, the Astros moved ahead with a four-run seventh. Jose Altuve reached with one out on a throwing error by third baseman Michael Martinez and Antonio Bastardo (2-5) walked Jimmy Paredes before Phillippe Aumont took over on the mound for the visitors.
After pinch-hitter Brandon Laird walked to load the bases, Maxwell hit a blooper that kicked up some chalk along the right-field line. Dominguez followed with a ground ball to left for a 7-4 Houston lead.
"The clubhouse has a new energy," Astros interim manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "The guys don't quit."
Jimmy Rollins doubled to begin the game for Philadelphia and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Juan Pierre before Chase Utley brought him home with a sacrifice fly.
Moore's home run put Houston on top in the third, but the Phillies regained the lead in the fifth. Rollins hit a two-out single and stole second base, advancing to third on a throwing error. Pierre tied the game with an RBI double and Ryan Howard lined a two-run double -- the 200th of his career -- to left after Lyles intentionally walked Utley.
Game Notes
Maxwell extended his hitting streak to 10 games ... Halladay allowed six hits, walked two and struck out seven in six innings ... The Phillies are 18-27 all-time at Minute Maid Park ... Philadelphia was 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
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