HOUSTON —
HOUSTON – Jordan Lyles pitched well for four innings, but Houston’s entire pitching staff broke down after that point, as the San Francisco Giants rallied for eight unanswered runs, beating Houston 8-4 to complete a three-game sweep at Minute Maid Park Thursday.
Before a crowd of 12,835 fans, Houston jumped out to a 4-0 lead, thanks to a triple by recently called up third baseman Matt Dominguez, a double by catcher Jason Castro and a solo home run by shortstop Tyler Greene.
After giving up Greene’s homer to lead off the third, Giants’ starter Ryan Vogelsong settled in, striking out seven in six innings of work. Vogelsong finished with seven hits and four runs allowed with one walk.
Lyles escaped a bases loaded with no outs situation in the top of the second, catching a liner hit back at his face by Vogelsong to end the threat. That was after he struck out Gregor Blanco and got Brandon Crawford to ground out to first baseman Brett Wallace.
Still, in the fifth, Lyles gave up a leadoff single before Angel Pagan’s two-run double into the corner in left broke up the shutout. The Giants would plate another in that inning and then get three more off Astros reliever Fernando Rodriguez. Former University of Texas first baseman Brandon Belt was 4 for 5 with an RBI and two doubles for the Giants.
The Astros (40-91) will open a three-game series against the NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds starting Friday.
