Lee, Altuve celebrate win
(c) AP/Nick Wass
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Eight straight Astros reached base in the third inning as Houston scored six runs on seven hits and two Washington errors, giving the Astros a commanding 6-0 lead as on their way to a 9-3 victory over the Nationals Saturday night. Everyone in Houston's starting nine got at least one hit during the game.
As generous as Nationals starter John Lannan was, Houston's Wandy Rodriguez was as stingy, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings for his eleventh win of the season.
Jordan Schafer got things started in the third with a one-out double, and advanced to third when Michael Morse mishandled the ball. Jason Bourgeois hit an RBI single, then moved to second on a single by J.D. Martinez. Carlos Lee and Chris Johnson both hit RBI singles, making it 3-0, then Angel Sanchez singled his way on to juice the bases.
Jose Altuve hit a dribbler up the third base line that Lannan fielded but whose throw home sailed wide of the plate, allowing two more runs to score. Carlos Corporan then put down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to give Houston a 6-0 lead and send Lannan to the showers.
Off the field, the Astros placed Sergio Escalona on the 60-day DL owing to his sprained left ankle, and called up LHP Xavier Cedeno from OKC to fill his spot. He's expected to join the club Sunday.
In Sunday's rubber game, Houston's Henry Sosa (2-3, 4.11) takes on Washington's Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 0.00), who's making just his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery. First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m. CDT.
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