Hunter Brown pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and his batterymate Yainer Diaz drove in three runs as the Houston Astros beat the visiting Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Wednesday in the rubber match of the three-game series.
Brown (10-5) snapped a six-start winless streak by producing his 15th quality start of the season. Diaz finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and an RBI single to pace the Houston offense.
The Astros scored two runs against Red Sox starter Walker Buehler (7-7) in the bottom of the first inning. Jeremy Pena led off the frame with his 13th homer, drilling a 3-1 fastball 358 feet out to left field. Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini then worked walks before Diaz lined the first pitch he saw to left for an RBI double.
Buehler then found his stride. He retired Ramon Urias to strand t