Cristian Javier made his 99th career start count Friday night.
Javier allowed just one hit over five innings, and the Houston Astros opened their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 3-1 victory at Daikin Park. Houston’s pitching staff held Arizona to three hits while striking out 13, and Josh Hader struck out the side in the ninth for his 23rd save.
All three Astros runs came in the third inning, with Yainer Diaz starting the scoring with his 11th home run of the season.
Javier Turns in Five Strong Innings
Javier retired Arizona in order in the first and worked around a walk in each of the next two innings. Geraldo Perdomo stole second after drawing a two-out walk in the third, but Javier struck out Corbin Carroll to strand him.
Gabriel Moreno accounted for Arizona’s only run against Javier with a solo homer leading off the fourth. Javier responded by striking out Ketel Marte and Lars Nootbaar, then worked around a two-out walk to Nolan Arenado. He struck out two more in a perfect fifth to finish his night.
In career start No. 99, Javier went five innings, allowing one run on one hit with three walks and eight strikeouts. He threw 79 pitches, 47 for strikes.
Astros Take Control in the Third
Diaz led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to left-center to put Houston ahead 1-0. After LaMonte Wade Jr. struck out, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez hit consecutive singles before Isaac Paredes doubled home Peña. Altuve followed with a sacrifice fly to score Alvarez and give Houston a 3-0 lead.
Those would be the Astros’ only runs of the night. Merrill Kelly held Houston to seven hits over six innings, allowing three runs while striking out four without issuing a walk.
Bullpen Protects the Lead
Arizona mounted its biggest threat immediately after Javier departed. Enyel De Los Santos retired Carroll before walking Moreno and allowing a ground-rule double to Marte, putting runners at second and third with one out.
Bennett Sousa entered and walked Nootbaar to load the bases, then induced Arenado into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to preserve Houston’s 3-1 lead.
Sousa returned for the seventh and recorded two outs before Perdomo singled, bringing Bryan Abreu into the game. Abreu retired Carroll to end the inning. In the eighth, he issued a leadoff walk to Moreno and threw a wild pitch before Peña and Christian Walker combined on another double play to erase the threat.
Hader struck out the side—all three swinging—in a perfect ninth for his 23rd save of the season and the 250th of his career. He became the 41st pitcher in MLB history to reach the milestone.
Alvarez Adds Two Hits
Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a run scored, raising his batting average to .317 as his pursuit of the American League Triple Crown continues. He singled in the third and fifth innings and scored Houston’s third run on Altuve’s sacrifice fly.
Diaz also went 2-for-3, with his third-inning homer providing Houston’s first run. Paredes went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Peña and Christian Walker accounted for the Astros’ remaining hits.
Houston finished with seven hits and went 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position. Arizona was held to three hits, went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and stranded seven.
The victory improves Houston to 73-69 with 20 games remaining in the regular season. The Astros have won three straight and eight of their last 10, and Friday’s results gave them some additional breathing room in the AL West. With Texas losing to Tampa Bay, Houston’s division lead grew from two games to three.
Houston and Arizona return to Daikin Park Saturday for the second game of the series. Ethan Pecko (1-0, 6.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Astros against Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (7-2, 3.49 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT on FOX/FOX ONE.
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