ATLANTA -- Hunter Brown held the Braves to two runs while throwing a career-high 108 pitches in 6 2/3 innings, and the Astros scored three runs in the second and third innings to cruise to their second consecutive win at Truist Park, 6-2 , on Saturday night.

The Astros moved one-half game ahead of the Mariners atop the American League West standings, with Seattle playing the Angels later Saturday. Houston stayed two games ahead of the third-place Rangers, who have won 16 of their last 20 games.

A two-run double by Jeremy Peña in the second put the Astros ahead, 3-0, and Christian Walker hit a two-run homer to center in the third to make it 6-0. The homer traveled a Statcast-projected 431 feet for Walker’s 23rd of the season.

Brown (12-7) retired nine of the first 10 batters he fac

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