Isaac Paredes homered for a third consecutive game, and the Houston Astros claimed the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Athletics with a 5-1 victory on Friday.
Astros right-hander Peter Lambert (5-4) carried a shutout into the sixth inning and was the beneficiary of Paredes’ production. Lambert recorded his third consecutive winning decision.
One night after becoming the fourth Mexican-born player to reach 100 career homers, Paredes slugged a three-run shot to left field off Athletics starter Jack Perkins in the first inning. Jeremy Pena (single) and Yordan Alvarez (walk) set the table for Paredes, who smashed a first-pitch sinker from Perkins 376 feet to left-center field for his ninth homer of the season and a 3-0 lead.
Perkins (2-3) appeared to find his groove in what was his first start of the season and fifth of his career. He struck out four consecutive batters following the Paredes blast and retired six consecutive batters before running into trouble with one out and Alvarez at the plate in the third.
Alvarez laced a one-out single to right field before Christian Walker dumped an 0-1 fastball from Perkins into shallow right that Athletics right fielder Carlos Cortes misplayed into a run-scoring triple. Alvarez rounded the bases and extended the Houston lead to 4-0. Paredes followed with a sacrifice fly to Cortes that plated Walker and pushed the margin to five runs.
Perkins allowed five runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts over four-plus innings.
Paredes finished 1-for-2 with a walk and a season-high four RBIs.
Lambert loaded the bases with one out in the second but rallied with strikeouts of Jeff McNeil and Darell Hernaiz. He worked around a one-out walk to Nick Kurtz in the third and offset a single from Henry Bolte in the fourth by inducing Zack Gelof to roll into a 5-4-3 double play.
Brent Rooker ended the shutout bid with his ninth home run, a solo shot to left in the sixth. Lambert allowed five hits and issued four walks over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four.
