Pence’s homer, RBI singles carry Astros to 6-4 win over Rockies

Pence drives in three runs to lead Astros

HOUSTON — Hunter Pence had a solo homer and two RBI singles, and the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight victory.

Lance Berkman and Ivan Rodriguez also drove in runs for the Astros, who’ve won five of six overall and seven of their last eight games against Colorado.

Chris Sampson held the Rockies scoreless in the eighth and ninth to earn his third save in four chances. Tim Byrdak (1-1) pitched a perfect seventh inning in relief of starter Brian Moehler to get the win.

Ian Stewart hit a three-run homer off Moehler for the Rockies, who’ve lost four in a row.

The Astros started the bottom of the first with four consecutive singles off Jason Marquis (7-4) to build a 3-0 lead.

Leadoff man Michael Bourn scored on Pence’s hit and Carlos Lee singled to load the bases. Berkman grounded out, but Miguel Tejada scored and Rodriguez then singled up the middle to drive home Pence.

Moehler allowed only two singles through the first four innings. Brad Hawpe and Seth Smith started the fifth with singles before Stewart drove a 1-0 pitch into the upper deck in right, his eighth homer of the season.

Pence led off the Houston fifth with a triple off the wall in left-center, just missing a home run. But Lee grounded out and Berkman walked before Rodriguez rolled into a double play, leaving Pence stranded.

Dexter Fowler doubled to center leading off the sixth, advanced on Clint Barmes’ bunt and scored on Todd Helton’s sacrifice fly to put the Rockies ahead 4-3.

Pence left no doubt in his next at-bat, leading off the seventh with a towering homer over the railroad tracks in left, his sixth of the season.

Marquis gave up a single to Lee before Randy Flores relieved. Berkman singled, Joel Peralta replaced Flores and Rodriguez lined out.

Geoff Blum then hit a grounder to Helton, who threw to Barmes at second to force out Berkman. Barmes’ return throw for the double play skipped away from Peralta, who was covering first base, and Lee scored to give Houston a 5-4 lead. Peralta was charged with an error.

Pence added an RBI single in the eighth off Manny Corpas.