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Astros beat Moyer, Rockies

Apr 8, 2012 - 5:01 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - J.D. Martinez had a two-run home run and drove in three runs as the Houston Astros defeated Jamie Moyer and the Colorado Rockies, 7-3, on Saturday.

Lucas Harrell (1-0), acquired off waivers from the Chicago White Sox last July before being called up in September, tossed seven innings of three-hit, shutout ball for Houston.

"What an outing," said Astros manager Brad Mills. "He just didn't allow them to get anything going. We couldn't have asked for more."

At age 49, Moyer (0-1) became the oldest pitcher to appear in a game since the Dodgers' Hoyt Wilhelm on July 10, 1972, but his first outing since returning from Tommy John Surgery didn't go as planned.

He gave up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and one walk in five innings.

"I don't think he pitched that badly at all," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

Moyer's quest to become the oldest pitcher to ever record a win will have to wait at least one more start. Jack Quinn of the Brooklyn Dodgers is the current record holder. He picked up a victory on September 13, 1932, when he was 49 years and 70 days old.

Moyer is currently 71 days older than when Quinn posted that win.

Jordan Schafer launched a home run to left field on Moyer's third pitch of the game to give Houston a quick 1-0 lead.

Brian Bixler led off the home half of the fourth with an infield single and reached third on a pair of throwing errors by Chris Nelson and Marco Scutaro. Martinez followed with a two-run blast into the Crawford Boxes in left to make it 3-0.

Schafer brought home Marwin Gonzalez in the fifth with a sac bunt, Chris Snyder plated Chris Johnson in the sixth with a single, and Travis Buck scored in the seventh off Martinez's single to make it 6-0.

After Michael Cuddyer got the Rockies on the board with a solo homer in the eighth, Johnson came home on a passed ball by Ramon Hernandez in the home half of the frame.

Troy Tulowitzki tripled home Dexter Fowler and Todd Helton picked up an RBI groundout in the ninth to conclude the scoring.

Game Notes

Moyer is the active leader in wins (267), innings (4,020) and starts (628). The Astros, who are the second youngest team in the league, have seven players on their current roster who were not born when Moyer made his MLB debut on June 16, 1986.