Nolan Arenado's two-out swing in the third did what Arizona's weekend in Houston needed most - it turned a tied road game into a lead that survived a late Astros push.
With Ketel Marte aboard, Arenado drove a 385-foot home run to left-center off Peter Lambert, his 22nd of the season, for a 3-1 Diamondbacks lead. The Associated Press credited that blast with putting Arizona ahead for good in a 3-2 win at Daikin Park and noted the club took two of three for its first series win in Houston since 2012.
ESPN's box matches the AP's scoring and lists Arenado 1-for-4 with a run, two RBI, and one strikeout, a .233/.307/.423 line and 67 RBI after the night. The two-out, two-run shape of the homer was the entire Arizona offense after James McCann's sacrifice fly had tied it in the second.
Corbin Carroll had doubled to open that second-inning rally; Gabriel Moreno later added a double in the eighth as Arizona protected the lead.
Road start, late save
Yordan Alvarez opened the scoring with a 337-foot solo shot in the first, his 38th homer - a career high and tied with Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero for the AL lead, the AP reported. After Arenado's third-inning drive, Eduardo Rodríguez settled in. Rodríguez (15-5) worked six innings, allowing three hits and one run with two walks and six strikeouts.
The Associated Press noted Arizona improved to 8-0 in his last eight road starts. Lambert (8-8) went seven innings with seven hits, three runs, no walks, and six strikeouts in the loss.
Houston cut the deficit in the eighth when Jose Altuve doubled, Christian Walker singled, and pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. singled home Altuve. Jonathan Loáisiga stranded the tying run by striking out Daulton Varsho and retiring Taylor Trammell on a fly out. Kevin Ginkel struck out the side in the ninth for his third save, including a punchout of Alvarez to end it.
