The Houston Astros picked up their fifth consecutive win and became the first American League team to eclipse the 40-win mark with an 8-4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field Thursday.

Justin Edmonds,Getty Images
Justin Edmonds,Getty Images
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Offensively, the Astros continued to find success at the plate collecting 13 hits despite striking out 17 times. The Rockies’ staff compiled a season-high and franchise record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.

George Springer, Carlos Correa, Preston Tucker, and Chris Carter, the first four hitters in the Houston lineup, went 7-for-19 at the dish and drove in five of the eight runs.

Springer, Tucker and Carter all had two-hit games. Correa only had one hit and a walk, but set a record by becoming the second youngest player to steal three bases, including third base on two occasions, in a game. Only Hall of Famer and all-time stolen base leader Rickey Henderson achieved that feat at a younger age. Correa scored two of the three times he was on base.

"When you get your leadoff guy [Springer] getting on base a lot to set the tone, you know it's going to be a good game," Correa said. "We can score a lot of runs when that happens."

Tucker and Carter gave Houston a lead it would not relinquish in the fifth inning with back-to-back RBI doubles. The hits led the end of the day for Rockies’ starter David Hale (2-2) who gave up five runs (all earned) on ten hits, but did record nine strikeouts.

Tucker put the Astros on the board first with a  first inning home run, his fourth of the season, to put Houston up 1-0 Pinch-hitter Domingo Santana  wrapped up the scoring for Houston with a three-run bomb, his first career major league home run,  in the eighth off reliever Scott Oberg.

"I couldn't even feel my footsteps. I guess I was flying. Everything was just emotional,” said Santana.

Houston starter Collin McHugh had a rough first inning, giving up a three-run homer of his own to Carlos Gonzales, but then settled in to pick up his seventh win of the season. McHugh finished giving  up only those three runs on four hits and five walks with eight strike outs in his six innings  of work.

Colorado finished the day 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

"We had some opportunities," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We've been real good with runners in scoring position most of the year, one of the best in baseball. But we didn't get the big hit today."

Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick left the game in the eighth inning with left hamstring discomfort and is day to day. He felt the discomfort while trying to leg out an infield hit in the eighth and wound up with a sacrifice.

The Astros open a series in Seattle Friday, sending rookie right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (3-0, 2.00 ERA) to the mound to make his seventh career big league start. The Mariners will trot Ronelis Elias (3-4, 3.67) to the mound.

First pitch is slated for 9:10 CDT. You can hear the game on Sports Radio 1340 beginning at 8:45 p.m. with the “Astro’s Launch” pre-game show.

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