Astros use 5-run seventh to clobber Guardians

Jon Singleton lofted a two-run homer that flipped the scoreboard in the sixth inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh that capped a five-run frame as the Houston Astros won the rubber match of their three-game series with the visiting Cleveland Guardians 8-2 on Thursday.

Singleton finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs. His leadoff single in the third inning resulted in the Astros' first run, and his two-out moon shot into the first row of seats in right field both spotted the Astros a 3-2 lead in the sixth and chased Guardians starter Logan Allen (3-2).

The Astros broke it open against Cleveland reliever Tyler Beede in the seventh, keyed by a leadoff triple from nine-hole hitter Jake Meyers. Jose Altuve's infield hit in the third loaded the bases and set the table for Singleton to score on a passed ball, then Altuve followed with an RBI single -- his third single in as many at-bats -- that extended the Houston lead to 4-2.

Beede loaded the bases with walks to Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker before hitting Jeremy Pena with a pitch that forced home Altuve. Yainer Diaz added an opposite-field single that plated Bregman and Tucker, delivering after falling into an 0-2 hole to Beede from the game.

Singleton greeted Guardians reliever Pedro Avila with a fly ball to center that drove in Pena.

Cleveland grabbed a 2-0 lead against Astros rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti in the third. Brayan Rocchio and Andres Gimenez stroked doubles and Jose Ramirez added a sacrifice fly that scored Steven Kwan, who had walked ahead of Gimenez's RBI double.

Arrighetti settled in and worked a career-high 5? innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Tayler Scott (1-1) struck out Estevan Florial to cap the sixth.

Allen allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 5? innings.

In addition to Singleton and Altuve, who finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, Pena also posted a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.