Nolan Arenado slugged his 22nd home run, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez produced a quality start and the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks claimed the rubber match of a three-game interleague series against the Houston Astros with a 3-2 victory on Sunday.
Arenado spotted the Diamondbacks (76-68) a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning with his two-run blast off Astros right-hander Peter Lambert (8-8).
Rodriguez (15-5) and four Arizona relievers made that advantage stand, though the Astros applied pressure down the stretch.
Trailing by two runs entering the eighth, the Astros (73-71) mounted a threat against Arizona reliever Jonathan Loaisiga. Jose Altuve capped a three-hit game by doubling to left with one out and scored after Christian Walker and pinch hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. singled in succession.
But Loaisiga rallied by striking out Daulton Varsho before inducing pinch hitter Taylor Trammell to hit a soft liner to Ketel Marte at second, stranding two baserunners and preserving the lead.
Right-hander Kevin Ginkel notched his third save by striking out the side in the ninth inning.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Yordan Alvarez smacked a 1-1 changeup from Rodriguez out to right for his 38th home run, setting a new career high.
Rodriguez allowed two more baserunners in the first but limited the damage with a strikeout of Nelson Velazquez. He surrendered only two more hits, a pair of Altuve singles, and retired eight consecutive batters during one stretch.
Rodriguez allowed one run on three hits plus two walks with six strikeouts over six innings and improved to 6-0 over his last eight road starts.
Corbin Carroll doubled off Lambert leading off the second and scored when James McCann added a sacrifice fly to left two batters later. The Diamondbacks seized the lead for good an inning later, but lost shortstop Geraldo Perdomo in the process when a Marte liner hit him in the helmet.
Perdomo left the field under his own power following a lengthy delay. Marte scored when Arenado bashed a Lambert fastball 385 feet to left-center.
Lambert retired 12 consecutive batters into the seventh but remained winless over his last 10 starts. He allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out six over seven innings.
–Field Level Media
