Martinez delivers go-ahead RBI single for Astros

[May 30, 2013]  DENVER (AP) -- J.D. Martinez hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, Carlos Pena connected for a home run as part of a three-run ninth, and the Houston Astros rallied against Colorado's bullpen to beat the Rockies 6-3 on Wednesday night.

The Astros overcame 12 strikeouts and Troy Tulowitzki's first multihomer game since 2011 in taking the opener of a two-game set at Coors Field.

Paul Clemens (3-2) pitched 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.

Marwin Gonzalez led off the eighth with a single off reliever Edgmer Escalona (1-2). Jose Altuve was intentionally walked and Rex Brothers relieved Escalona. Brothers struck out Jason Castro but Martinez hit a two-out single up the middle, scoring Gonzalez to put the Astros in front by a run.

Colorado had runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the eighth but first baseman Pena made a diving catch of Jordan Pacheco's liner to end the threat. Pena then started the ninth by homering off reliever Rob Scahill, called up from the minors prior to the game. The Astros added two more runs on Gonzalez's run-scoring sacrifice and Brandon Barnes' RBI single.

Tulowitzki homered in the ninth off reliever Jose Veras and off starter Erik Bedard in the fourth for his seventh career multihomer game. The last was Aug. 27, 2011, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Rockies couldn't take advantage of a solid start from Tyler Chatwood, who struck out 10 batters in six innings. The strikeout total was the most in a game by a Rockies starter this season and a career high for Chatwood, who allowed two runs on four hits.

Bedard also pitched well and did not get a decision. He went six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits. It was the third consecutive outing in which he has allowed only two runs.

Houston struck first, getting a run in the second inning on Matt Dominguez's sacrifice fly.

Tulowitzki answered leading off the fourth, when he drove the first offering from Bedard the opposite way into the right field seats. It was his 11th home run of the season and also produced the 500th run scored of his career.

Tulowitzki's two-out double in the fifth drove in Pacheco. But the Astros tied it up at 2-all in the sixth when Barnes scored on a sacrifice fly by Castro.

Chatwood escaped further damage in the inning when he fanned Martinez and Pena for his ninth and 10th strikeouts of the game. His previous high for strikeouts was six.

NOTES: The Rockies recalled Scahill from Triple A Colorado Springs and made room for him by optioning OF Charlie Blackmon. ... The Rockies are six games into a stretch in which they play 17 games in 17 days. ... The Astros, whose Triple-A affiliate is in Oklahoma City, raised $21,000 this week through the Astros Foundation to aid Oklahoma's tornado relief efforts. The money is being forwarded to the Red Cross. ... The Rockies acquired Chatwood two years ago from the Angels in exchange for catcher Chris Iannetta.

[Associated Press; By DENNIS GEORGATOS]

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