• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Blum helps Astros end three-game skid

Apr 30, 2008 - 6:10 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Geoff Blum delivered a three-run double in the third inning to snap a tie and propel the Houston Astros to a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Miguel Tejada and Carlos Lee each drove in runs in the opening frame for the Astros, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Conor Jackson blasted a two-run shot and finished with three RBI for the Diamondbacks, who had won five of their previous six games at Chase Field.

Arizona's top pitching prospect, Max Scherzer, pitched 4 1/3 perfect innings with seven strikeouts in his major league debut after relieving starter Edgar Gonzalez (1-2).

"It was quite a debut," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "First couple of pitches he was kind of getting his feet wet, his velocity wasn't quite there at first, but once he got through the first hitter it was lights out ... literally.

"It was relieving. I was so eager to get out there and make my major league debut," Scherzer added. "I have happy to get it out of the way."

Gonzalez could not get through the third inning. With the score tied at 2-2, he managed to get Michael Bourn to ground out to lead off the frame but then allowed the next three batters to reach, loading the bases.

Blum then lined a bases-clearing double to left field, giving Houston a 5-2 advantage. After Jose Cruz Jr. struck out, J.R. Towles doubled in Blum to end Gonzalez's night.

"It's always nice to contribute and I know it's been few and far between for the opportunities, but it's been nice with the bases loaded to have the key hit to help the team to a relatively early lead," Blum said.

"We got a couple tonight and that's the key for us to extend innings," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said of the decisive third frame. "The inning was big for Blum and we ended up getting four and we made it stand up."

Gonzalez gave up six runs and eight hits over 2 2/3 innings. Scherzer, who posted a 1.17 ERA in four starts with Class AAA Tucson this season, entered and retired all 13 batters he faced.

"I was able to throw for strikes and that's what I have been really striving to do," Scherzer said. "When they sent me to the minors they told me to work on command and my secondary stuff and I took that to heart and really tried to focus on developing that and throwing my secondary stuff for strikes."

"That was pretty impressive stuff, he hit 97 and 98 one time and he had a nice looking slider," Cooper said of the rookie hurler. "I would love to have him in my pen."

Astros starter Jack Cassell lasted 4 2/3 frames, allowing three runs and four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

"I fell behind a quite a few hitters tonight, but I relied on my movement and the guys behind me made a lot of great plays to help me," Cassell said. "We got out to an early lead and my job was to throw strikes and pound the strike zone and I was pleased with that."

Doug Brocail (1-0) was one of three relievers to bridge the gap to Jose Valverde, who slammed the door in the ninth against his former team to collect his fifth save of the season.