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Astros send Rockies to eighth straight loss

Sep 23, 2011 - 5:37 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Matt Downs' pinch-hit, three-run double in the seventh inning proved to be the winner as Houston downed Colorado, 9-6, in the opener of a four-game set.

Carlos Lee went 1-for-2 with four RBI and a run scored while Jose Altuve scored twice for the Astros, who had lost five of seven coming in. Henry Sosa (3-5) gave up three runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings to snap a three-start losing streak.

"He gave up a lot of hits, but he was able to keep them from putting up a big inning," said Houston manager Brad Mills about Sosa. "He's done a really good job for us this entire year."

Wilin Rosario hit a three-run home run while Kevin Kouzmanoff went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored for the Rockies, who have lost their last eight games. Alex White (2-3) dropped his second straight start as he was tagged for five runs on six hits over just 4 2/3 innings.

"Alex wasn't real sharp," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "His command tonight was very erratic. He was spraying a lot of pitches tonight."

Houston held a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh and were able to add to that as Downs came on with the bases loaded and roped a pitch to left-center for an 8-3 advantage.

The runs were needed as Rosario hit his third home run of his career with two men on in the eighth to make it an 8-6 game.

The Astros padded their advantage in the eighth on a Jordan Schafer sac fly while Mark Melancon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 20th save of the season.

Kouzmanoff plated a run in the second on a groundout, but Clint Barmes tied the contest in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double.

Dexter Fowler scored on a wild pitch in the third, but the Astros took the lead for good in the bottom half when Lee punched a double to center with the bases loaded to clear the bags for a 5-2 lead.

Lee added a sacrifice fly in the fifth while Kouzmanoff led off the seventh with his first home run in a Colorado uniform.

Game Notes

The Rockies left eight men on base...Colorado swept a three-game set at home against Houston from August 22-24...Downs has 15 RBI as a pinch-hitter, which leads the majors...Sosa hit a double in the third for his first major league hit.