Yordan Alvarez hit two three-run home runs and Framber Valdez pitched seven innings as the Houston Astros won 8-0 against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
The AL West-leading Astros bounced back after being swept in a three-game series by Cincinnati.
Houston was ahead by one run when Alvarez, who drove in a season-high six RBIs, hit a three-run homer off Brandon Pfaadt (9-8) in the fifth inning, making it 4-0.
Jose Altuve added an RBI single in the sixth, and Alvarez homered again in his next at-bat, this time to the bullpen in right-center off Jordan Montgomery, pushing the lead to 8-0.
“It’s not that easy y’all,” said Houston manager Joe Espada. “But this guy is so good he makes it look (easy).”
Alvarez had his seventh game with multiple home runs, tying Chris Carter (2014) for the most in a season in franchise history.
This was his second multi-homer game this week, having also hit two home runs in a win over Kansas City at home on Sunday, after not hitting a home run at Minute Maid Park since June 22.
“Alvarez is doing it at a high level and there’s no mystery,” said Arizona manager Torey Lovullo. “He’s a very powerful hitter. He’s a very smart hitter and we just made some mistakes.
We went to certain spots too many times and we suffered the consequences.”
Valdez (14-6) gave up only two singles and struck out seven, following his last start where he pitched seven innings of no-hit ball.
Altuve and Mauricio Dubón each had three hits, and Kyle Tucker walked and was hit by a pitch in his return after missing time since fracturing his right shin on June 3.
“I felt pretty normal,” Tucker said. He did not go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. “There are a few things, I’ve got to make a few adjustments just in terms of being live in a game. But I do a pretty good job at making adjustments pretty quick.”
Arizona All-Star Ketel Marte went 0 for 3 with a walk in his return from a sprained left ankle that had kept him out since August 18.
Geraldo Perdomo got Arizona’s first hit with a single to start the third inning, and Christian Walker walked with one out in the fourth. Valdez then retired the next eight batters before walking Walker again to start the seventh inning.
Eugenio Suárez singled, and Valdez retired Jake McCarthy before Kevin Newman grounded into a double play to end the inning and Valdez’s night.
Jon Singleton hit a single to start Houston’s second inning but was thrown out at home on a double by Ben Gamel. Gamel was on third base with two outs when Dubón singled to left field, sending Gamel home and putting the Astros up 1-0.
In the fifth inning, Dubón and Altuve hit consecutive ground ball singles with no outs, and then Alvarez hit a 407-foot home run to the back of the second deck in right field, making it 4-0.
Alvarez watched the ball sail away before tossing his bat and jogging to first base.
Pfaadt walked Yainer Diaz before striking out Tucker for the first out. Catcher Jose Herrera left the game after being hit on top of the helmet by Tucker’s follow-through on the strikeout.
Herrera, who was getting more playing time with starter Gabriel Moreno out due to a groin injury, was helped off the field after a few minutes and replaced by Adrian Del Castillo.
Lovullo said that Herrera was okay and would return to the lineup on Saturday. Pfaadt allowed eight hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
