Hunter Pence drives in both runs to help Astros beat Marlins 2-1

Pence leads Astros past Marlins 2-1

MIAMI — Hunter Pence hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the Houston Astros averted a series sweep by beating Florida 2-1 Sunday, ending the Marlins’ season-high five-game winning streak.

Pence also drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

Nelson Figueroa and two relievers combined on a six-hitter. Wilton Lopez (5-0) faced only six batters in two innings, and Brandon Lyon earned his sixth save in seven chances by retiring Mike Stanton with two on to end the game.

Gaby Sanchez hit his 14th home run for the Marlins.

Figueroa and Marlins starter Andrew Miller were surprisingly effective. Figueroa, making his third start this season, retired 11 in a row during one stretch and allowed just one run — Sanchez’s homer— in six innings.

Miller, making his first major league appearance since July 19, 2009, allowed one run in five innings before departing for a pinch-hitter. Miller replaced 14-game winner Ricky Nolasco, who was scratched from his scheduled start because of a partial tear in his right knee.

Pence’s 19th homer, one of only five hits for Houston, came with one out in the eighth off Jose Veras (2-1).

Houston manufactured the game’s first run in the third inning when Michael Bourn led off with a bunt single, stole second took third on a groundout and came home on Pence’s sacrifice fly.

Sanchez’s two-out homer in the sixth made it 1-all.

With runners in scoring position, Houston went 0 for 8, and Florida went 0 for 4. Figueroa gave up back-to-back singles to start the fifth inning to put runners at the corners, then retired the next three batters.

NOTES: Sanchez was not hurt when hit in the helmet by a pitch from Lyon. … Houston starters have an ERA of 2.46 in the past 13 games. … Marlins RHP Jose Veras has inherited 17 runners this season and left them all on base, which leads the major leagues. … When Astros 3B Chris Johnson reached on a broken-bat single in the second inning, the barrel sailed into an empty section 15 rows behind the third-base dugout.