: OF Charlie Blackmon was a late scratch with back tightne

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros got another good outing from their starting pitcher, and their bullpen was just fine for a change. J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer off James Shields, Jordan Lyles pitched six effective innings and the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Wednesday night. Lyles (2-1) allowed one run and six hits in his 50th career game. Travis Blackley and Hector Ambriz each got three outs before Jose Veras pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save one night after the bullpen struggled in a 7-3 loss. "Theyve been taxed a lot this year and called upon on numerous occasions, so every once in a while youre going to have the kind of game that we had last night," manager Bo Porter said. "But again, it speaks to the character of the men down there. They hold themselves accountable to holding a lead, and tonight they did a tremendous job. All of them." Bud Norris pitched six shutout innings Tuesday, but the Royals scored seven times in the final three innings. Houston bounced back quite nicely to take two of three for its fourth series win this season. Shields (2-5) struck out seven in seven innings while yielding two runs and seven hits. He has gone seven or more innings in each of his last six starts, but hasnt won since April 30 due in part to his offence providing him with just five runs combined in his last four starts. "Its a little frustrating," manager Ned Yost said. "Especially when James Shields goes out and gives you the type of performance he gives you about every time he goes out. We just have not done a good job with run support with him at all." Shields is confident it will turn around soon. "These guys are great. They are grinding every day," Shields said. "We are going through a little struggle right now. Our heads are high, and we are staying positive. It is a long season. By no means are we out of it." The right-hander, who was acquired in an off-season trade with Tampa Bay, retired his first two batters before running into trouble. Jason Castro singled before Martinez drove a 2-2 pitch into the seats in right for his fourth homer. "We were able to get him right away, first inning which is huge and it gives Lyles a little bit of comfort as well," Martinez said. "Pitchers like that ... good guys, youve got to get them early before they settle in." Castro tacked on an RBI single in the eighth inning against Kelvin Herrera. Houstons Jimmy Paredes got his first start of the season at third base in place of Matt Dominguez, who sat out with tightness in his left quadriceps. Paredes has struggled in the outfield in the last few games, causing two collisions, but was solid at third. Alcides Escobar smoked a grounder to Paredes with one out in the eighth, and he made a perfect throw to first to get him out. "I dont know how hard he threw that ball across the diamond, but I would love to put a clock on it though," Porter said of the play. "He almost mishandled it and he got control of it and it was absolutely whistled across the diamond. He looked comfortable over there." Kansas City got its only run in the third when Jeff Francoeur hit a leadoff triple to the hill in centre and George Kottaras followed with an RBI double. Alex Gordon walked with two down, but Lyles struck out Billy Butler to end the inning. Lyles also got Gordon to bounce out with two runners on to end the fifth. Castro, the catcher, was impressed with Lyles work. "Thats the best Ive seen him throw in a long time," Castro said. "He had command, didnt miss. When we were trying to go certain locations, he missed where we were trying to go. He didnt leave really anything over the plate for guys to hit and thats big when you can do that." After their two-run first inning, the Astros had trouble stringing together hits against Shields. Martinez singled to start the fourth, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Chris Carter followed with a single, and Shields retired the next two batters to end the inning. Gordon singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. NOTES: Houston is off on Thursday. ... The Royals return home to open a four-game series with the Angels. ... Kansas City C Salvador Perez was out of the lineup for the second straight game after bruising his right hip after crashing into the railing chasing a foul ball on Monday. He said he has a gigantic bruise on his hip, but is OK and that he could have played on Tuesday. He is day to day. ... Dominguez is expected to be back in the lineup on Friday. Detroit Red Wings Gear . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. 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DENVER -- Braden Shipley made his first start at hitter-friendly Coors Field a memorable one.The rookie right-hander pitched 5 2/3 innings and got two big strikeouts in the sixth to preserve a lead and help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 9-4 on Saturday night.Chris Owings had a career high-tying four hits and Jake Lamb homered for the Diamondbacks, who built a six-run lead early for Shipley. Owings singled each of his at-bats, with his hit in the second giving Arizona a 1-0 lead it never relinquished.Shipley (3-3) wasnt intimidated by pitching at altitude, scattering eight hits and walking just one. He relied on his experience from the Pacific Coast League to get through the Rockies order.Ive pitched in a lot of tough ballparks, especially in Triple-A this year with Reno, he said. I just never really let it get to my head. I just always have trusted my stuff. And I think that was the key tonight, trusting my stuff and let the defense work.He trusted it in the sixth when the Rockies cut a 6-0 lead to 7-3 and got the first two men on. He struck out NL home run leader Nolan Arenado and David Dahl before Tom Murphy hit a run-scoring single.In that situation I just kind of took a deep breath and told myself, `Just limit. Get a double play ball right here and well move, Shipley said. It was just about pitch by pitch in that situation and keeping the team where it was.Edwin Escobar relieved Shipley and struck out Gerardo Parra in an eight-pitch at-bat to end the inning with runners on second and third.I was working with my strength, trying to throw a fastball inside, Escobar said. I said, `I threw too many fastballs already, lets try with a breaking ball. And I got him with a breaking ball.The Diamondbacks bullpen tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings after imploding against Colorado on Friday. Arizona relievers allowed eight runs, seven in the eighth inning in Fridays loss.Very proud of the guys for coming back, especially after a tough one last night, manager Chip Halle said.ddddddddddddParra homered and doubled against his former team and Daniel Descalso also went deep for the Rockies.The Diamondbacks broke it open in the third off Tyler Chatwood (10-9) as Welington Castillo had a three-run double and Lamb followed with his 27th homer to make it 6-0.His command got away from him when they got the five, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. He started spraying it around a bit, getting into bad counts. Thats what hurt him.Parra led off the Rockies third with his sixth homer and doubled ahead of Descalsos fifth of the year in the fifth inning to pull the Rockies to 6-3.Arizona tacked on a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh on Paul Goldschmidts RBI double and Yasmany Tomas run-scoring single. Goldschmidt extend his streak of reaching base against the Rockies to 50 straight games, the longest streak ever against Colorado.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: LHP Andrew Chafin (shoulder) is scheduled for a rehab assignment Sunday and RHP Rubby De La Rosa (elbow) is expected to toss an inning Monday. If all goes well manager Chip Hale said both player could join the team soon. ... C Chris Herrmann (hamstring) played five innings in a rehab assignment Friday and was scheduled to play left field Saturday and catcher on Sunday.Rockies: OF Charlie Blackmon was a late scratch with back tightness. ... RHP Jeff Hoffman had his start pushed back an extra day. Manager Walt Weiss said the rookie is dealing with a blister.20 GRANDDJ LeMahieu had three hits for Colorado and has now reached base in 20 straight games. He is now hitting an NL-leading .345.SEPTEMBER START UPThe Diamondbacks recalled infielder Kyle Jensen from Triple-A Reno. Jensen, 28, made his major league debut as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and flew out to right field.UP NEXTDiamondbacks RHP Archie Bradley (5-8, 4.95 ERA) will face Rockies rookie Jon Gray (9-6, 4.41). ' ' '