George Springer finished a triple shy of the cycle and had four RBIs to spark Houston from the leadoff spot, lifting the Astros to an 8-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Springer has excelled in eight games since moving into the leadoff spot, going 17 for 35 with three home runs. He doubled on the first pitch of Tuesday’s game, hit a three-run homer off Patrick Corbin (2-5) in the second inning and added a run-scoring single off the left-hander in the fourth.
Springer scored twice and Luis Valbuena homered for the Astros, who had 12 hits to win for the seventh time in eight games.
Lance McCullers (2-1) had control issues at times, but limited the damage in five innings.
Jean Segura hit a two-run double off Scott Feldman in the ninth inning, but Luke Gregerson struck out the side for his 13th save.
Corbin labored out of the gate, starting with Springer’s double. Arizona’s left-hander needed 24 pitches to get through the first inning, but managed to keep the Astros from scoring.
McCullers had even more trouble in the bottom half, leading to a 33-minute opening frame. Arizona had three hits in the inning and scored two runs, on Jake Lamb’s single and Chris Herrmann’s fielder’s choice.
McCullers steadied himself. Corbin did not.
McCullers had his first big league hit – a sharp single to left – off Corbin in the second inning and Springer followed with a three-run homer just over the wall in right for a 3-2 lead.
Jake Marisnick added a run-scoring single off Corbin in the fourth inning and Springer chased him with another to left.
Corbin allowed seven runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.
McCullers started having control issues in the fifth inning, walking two and allowing a run to score on a wild pitch before striking out Herrmann with runners on second and third.
He allowed three runs and six hits, with seven strikeouts and four walks.
Valbuena put Houston up 8-2 by hitting Randall Delgado’s first pitch of the fifth inning over the wall in right.