NEW YORK -- LaMonte Wade Jr. slammed a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning to put the Astros ahead and send rookie right-hander Ethan Pecko to his first career win in a 6-3 victory over the Mets on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
Houston (69-68) won its second consecutive series in the Big Apple, taking two of three games from the Mets after taking two of three from the Yankees. The 4-2 road trip keeps the Astros in first place in the American League West heading into a four-game series against the AL Central-leading White Sox beginning Monday in Houston.
Pecko, making his third career start, gave up back-to-back homers to Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto to begin the game and a single to Bo Bichette before recording an out. He responded by sending down the next 12 batters and finished a career-high five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) to qualify for the win.
Pecko threw 47 of 83 pitches for strikes, getting 13 whiffs, including seven on a sweeper he threw 29 times. AJ Blubaugh threw two scoreless innings in relief.
The Astros trailed, 3-2, after five, but rallied after two outs in the sixth against reliever Jonathan Pintaro. Wade followed a two-out double by Yainer Diaz with a long homer to right field to flip the game, putting Houston ahead, 4-3. It was his third career pinch-hit homer. Houston tacked on two more runs in the seventh.