SAN FRANCISCO -- Nelson Velázquez and Nick Allen drove in runs with sacrifice flies to back a strong performance by seven different pitchers to send the Astros to a 2-1 win over the Giants in Oracle Park in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.
The Astros (62-60) took two of three from the Giants and went 3-3 on their West Coast road trip to remain in first place in the American League West. They’ll now head home for nine games against teams with losing records.
Bryan King faced four batters as an opener and issued two walks, one of which led to a run. That was all the Giants managed against the Astros pitching staff, including three scoreless innings in relief from Tatsuya Imai and 1 2/3 from AJ Blubaugh.
Josh Hader improved to 17-for-17 in save chances with a scoreless ninth.
The Astros had two hits through six innings before the Giants gift-wrapped a run in the seventh with some shoddy defense, including a misplayed fly ball in left field by Victor Bericoto. Velázquez’s pinch-hit sac fly scored Isaac Paredes to tie the game.
Taylor Trammell led off the eighth with a triple and scored on a sac fly by Allen, who was starting at second base for the hobbled Jose Altuve, to give the Astros a 2-1 lead. Houston went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position for the second game in a row.