DENVER – Chris Carter and Matt Dominguez hit consecutive homers during a six-run sixth, Lucas Harrell won for the first time in six starts and the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5 on Thursday to sweep the two-game series at Coors Field.
J.D. Martinez had a career-high four hits Houston, which swept a series for the first time this season and won three of four against Colorado this week. The Astros last won two straight four weeks ago against the Los Angeles Angels.
Harrell (4-6) allowed four runs — three earned — in 5 2-3 innings to pick up his first win since beating the Yankees on April 29.
Hector Ambriz got his first save.
The Astros trailed 3-1 after five, but Juan Nicasio (4-2) and the bullpen couldn't hold it. The first four batters in the sixth reached against Nicasio (4-2) to tie it.
Carter then greeted Wilton Lopez with a three-run homer to left and Dominguez followed with a solo shot to make it 7-3.
It was the second time this season the Astros have hit back-to-back home runs, and the six-run inning matched Houston's season high for one frame.
Carlos Gonzalez's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth made it 7-4, and Todd Helton's sacrifice fly in the ninth made it a two-run game. Nolan Arenado struck out looking with a man on to end it.
Gonzalez reached four times for and stole three bases for Colorado, which couldn't manufacture a late-game comeback and lost for the fifth time in its last six games. The Rockies are now 15-22 since starting the season 13-4 and fell to third place in the NL West.
Harrell (4-6) survived a rough start and limited the damage despite a season-high four errors by his defense.
Colorado couldn't take advantage of the poor fielding. They managed singled runs in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead but left the bases loaded in the second and third.
Troy Tulowitzki, who had two homers Wednesday night, flew out to end the second and Dexter Fowler hit into an inning-ending double play in the third.
NOTES: Martinez has three straight multi-hit games. ... Houston's previous high in errors was three, done three times, the last coming on May 17 at Pittsburgh. ... Astros RHPs Edgar Gonzalez and Jose Veras were not available to pitch Thursday. Gonzalez was held out because of fatigue/soreness in his pitching shoulder and Veras was given the day off after pitching in four consecutive games. ... Rockies LHP Jeff Francis (groin) is schedule for his first rehab start Monday in Salt Lake City. He will throw 70-75 pitches and if all goes well will have a second start June 8 in Reno. ... The Astros will send LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-2) against Tommy Hanson (2-1) in the opener against the Los Angeles Angles in Anaheim Friday. ... Colorado's Jon Garland (3-6) will face Clayton Kershaw (5-3) in the first game against the Dodgers on Friday.
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