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9-run 5th helps D-backs down Astros

Aug 19, 2012 - 5:50 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Aaron Hill capped an impressive nine-run fifth inning with a three-run home run as the Arizona Diamondbacks thumped the Houston Astros, 12-4, in the second test of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Chris Young smoked a solo home run among his four hits, scored twice and finished with three RBI. Ryan Wheeler clubbed his first major league long ball, while Justin Upton, Paul Goldschmidt and Stephen Drew added RBI for the Diamondbacks, who have won three straight.

Patrick Corbin (5-4) allowed four runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts to pick up the win, while Houston starter Jordan Lyles (2-10) was rocked for seven runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and three walks over four-plus innings in defeat.

"He had a real efficient last two innings and won another game for us," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said about Corbin.

Chris Snyder ripped a two-run home run and Tyler Greene hit a solo shot for the Astros, who have lost five of their last six contests.

Following the game, the Astros fired manager Brad Mills, hitting coach Mike Barnett and first base coach Bobby Meachum.

Mills was under contract with the club through the 2013 season, but led the team to an MLB-worst 39-82 this season. The Astros have never posted a record over .500 under Mills, finishing 2010 at 76-86 and 2011 with a franchise-worst 56-106 mark.

The Diamondbacks struck first with a run in the second inning courtesy of back-to-back doubles by Goldschmidt and Young.

Jose Altuve ripped a one-out ground-rule double over the wall in right field in the Houston third and came around to score when Greene poked a base hit into right field, tying the game at 1-1.

Houston took the lead in the fourth as Snyder got a belt-high fastball from Corbin and blasted it into the seats in left field, making it a 3-1 game, but the D-backs roared back with nine runs in the fifth to take control.

Gerardo Parra began the inning with a double and went to third on a wild pitch before Hill walked to put runners on first and third. Upton and Goldschmidt ripped consecutive RBI singles to tie the game at 3-3 and Miguel Montero walked to load the bases.

Young laced an RBI base hit into left field, which scored Upton to give Arizona the lead and spell the end of the night for Lyles. Xavier Cedeno came in from the bullpen and walked Drew to plate another run before Wheeler hit a grounder to the right side that went right through the legs of Altuve at second, scoring two more runs.

"I really can't recall another outing like this for how poor I threw my fastball," Lyles said. "Even before the fifth my fastball command wasn't there. Guys were hitting it hard."

Hill capped the massive inning when he cracked a three-run shot high above the Crawford Boxes in left off Chuckie Finn, extending the Diamondbacks lead to 10-3.

Greene slammed a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth to close the deficit to 10-4.

Wheeler's first major league home run came leading off the Arizona seventh and Young tacked on another run for the D-backs with a solo shot to left.

Game Notes

Houston fell to 27-34 at home this season ... Arizona has won six in a row at Minute Maid Park and eight straight overall against the Astros ... Corbin won his third consecutive decision ... Young, a Houston native, has hit safely in eight consecutive games against the Astros ... Arizona went 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine men on base.