Astros Shut Down Dodgers For Second Night In A Row
HOUSTON (AP) — Scott Kazmir pitched six solid innings, Jose Altuve and Luis Valbuena homered and the Houston Astros defeated Zack Greinke and the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Saturday night.
A night after teammate Mike Fiers pitched a no-hitter against the Dodgers, Kazmir (7-8) didn't permit a runner until Jimmy Rollins singled to start the fourth inning.
The Astros won a matchup of division leaders and ended an eight-game winning streak by Greinke (13-3).
Kazmir rebounded from his worst start with the Astros, giving up one run and six hits while striking out eight. He had lost three in a row since winning July 24 at Kansas City in his first start since being acquired from Oakland.
Relievers Will Harris and Pat Neshek each pitched a perfect inning and Luke Gregerson worked the ninth for his 24th save.
Houston pitchers had retired 30 straight Dodgers until Rollins singled, and he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
It was the Dodgers' first hit in 13 1/3 innings since Kike Hernardez's two-out double in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game at Oakland.
Greinke gave up three runs and three hits in seven innings. He set down 16 of his last 17 batters.
Greinke allowed two homers in a game for the first time since last Aug. 23, tagged by Valbuena and Altuve. The right-hander was 8-0 with a 1.16 ERA in his previous 11 starts.
Altuve led off the first with a triple and scored two batters later on an error by third baseman Justin Turner.
Valbuena hit a solo home run into the Houston bullpen in right center in the second to up the lead to 2-0.
Rollins doubled and scored on Turner's single in the sixth. Altuve hit his 10th homer in the bottom half.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Yasiel Puig started in right field and batted second after being out of the lineup the last two games with a right hamstring injury. He went 1 for 4 with a single.
Astros: OF George Springer was hitting off a tee Friday, manager A.J. Hinch said. Springer has been on the disabled list since July 2 with a right wrist fracture and resumed baseball activities Aug. 14.
ASTROS HONOR BIGGIO
Before the game, the Astros honored Craig Biggio for being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Former Astros manager Art Howe and former general manager Gerry Hunsicker were among those in attendance for the pregame ceremony. Biggio became the first player inducted into the Hall of Fame as an Astro this year. Biggio's No. 7 was painted on Tal's Hill in center field.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-6) will look to continue his string of solid outings Sunday in the finale of the three-game series with the Astros. Kershaw is 5-0 with an 0.82 ERA in his last seven starts.
Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (5-4) will be recalled from Double-A Corpus Christi prior to Sunday's game to make his first major league start since being tagged for six runs while getting just one out Aug. 3 at Texas. McCullers hasn't pitched since Aug. 18 against Arkansas.
NEEDS HELP
During the Biggio ceremony, a security guard collapsed along the right field line. Astros medical personnel attended to the man before he was placed on a cart and taken out of the stadium. He was responsive when he was taken to a local hospital, a team spokesman said.
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