Oberholtzer bringing stability to Astros' rotation

DENVER -- The Astros are still trying to find some stability at a few spots in their starting rotation, and an effective Brett Oberholtzer appears ready to fill a void.

• Cast your Esurance All-Star ballot for #ASGWorthy players

Oberholtzer gave the Astros his second consecutive quality start and got the victory in an 8-4 win over the Rockies on Wednesday night at Coors Field.

The lefty, making his fourth start since returning from the disabled list with a blister, held the Rockies to three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings to win his second consecutive start. He threw eight scoreless against the Mariners in his previous outing.

"We've got to get through our rotation and have quality starts and to have him step up and grab this opportunity has been good to see," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "We want to see more of it. He's got a tough matchup next week against the Angels, and then we go home in a really difficult part of our schedule. He'll be tested, but he's answering those questions every five days."

Oberholtzer credited catcher Jason Castro with helping with a mid-game change of philosophy. He said the Rockies were starting to reach over the plate when he was throwing hard stuff away, so they mixed it up and started throwing fastballs and cutters inside.

"That mid-game adjustment really paid off to get me a little bit deeper than maybe if I continued to do the same things that worked for the first three innings," he said.

Oberholtzer, who also drew a walk and had two sac bunts, said pitching well two games in a row is something to build on.

"I just try to help my team win and throw up some quality starts, good innings," he said. "And with our offense swinging the bats like they do, it allows me to go deeper in the game."