Astros beat Mets for DeFrancescoâ??s 1st win

NEW YORK — Jordan Lyles won for the first time in two months and the Houston Astros snapped a seven-game skid Friday night with a 3-1 victory over the sluggish New York Mets, giving Tony DeFrancesco his first win as a major league manager.

Tyler Greene homered and Lyles knocked in a run with his first career double as the Astros (40-86) improved to 4-0 against the Mets this season. Houston, with the worst record in the majors, won for only the eighth time in its last 51 games.

It was the perfect homecoming for DeFrancesco, who grew up in the Bronx and played catcher at nearby Seton Hall. He said he expected about 40 family members and friends in the stands, including his parents, for each game of the weekend series.

David Wright hit his 200th homer for the Mets, who have lost six straight and nine of 11.

CHICAGO — Joe Mather took advantage of a rare start with a go-ahead single during a three-run rally in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs ended a four-game losing streak with a victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies had matched a season best with a five-game winning streak.

Chicago trailed 3-2 going into the eighth. Brett Jackson tied it with his second homer of the season and Mather, batting in the leadoff spot usually occupied by David DeJesus, hit an RBI single against reliever Matt Belisle (3-5).

PITTSBURGH — Mike Fiers pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Aramis Ramirez had a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh and the Milwaukee Brewers held on to win their fourth consecutive game.

Fiers (7-6) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. The rookie allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2-3 innings.

CINCINNATI — Allen Craig and Yadier Molina homered during a six-run sixth inning on Friday night, and the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals opened a defining road trip by beating the Cincinnati Reds and moving six games back of the NL Central leaders.

The Cardinals' big comeback off Mat Latos (10-4) started a 10-day trip against the Reds, Pirates and Nationals.