Denver, CO (My Sportsbook) - David Newhan hit a go-ahead RBI triple in a two-run eighth inning as the Houston Astros came back to edge the Colorado Rockies, 7-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Coors Field.

Jose Castillo finished 3-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored, while Mark Loretta added three hits, including a double and an RBI for Houston, which has won 10 of their last 11. The streaking Astros are six games behind Milwaukee for the National League Wild Card spot.

Wandy Rodriguez started for Houston but was removed from the game after one inning due to a left oblique strain. He allowed one hit and struck out three before being replaced by Jack Cassel, who went four innings. The right-hander gave up two runs on four hits, struck out two and walked a pair. Journeyman Doug Brocail (7-5) earned the win after tossing one shutout inning. Jose Valverde earned his 40th save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth.

Brad Hawpe had a pair of hits, including a three-run homer and Matt Holliday had a two-run double for the Rockies, who have dropped six of their last 10 games.

"We've still got more games, we're still in there," Hawpe said. "We just have to play our next game and get that one."

Jorge De La Rosa started for Colorado and was tagged with four runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. The lefty struck out three, but struggled with his control, issuing four walks. Taylor Buchholz (6-5) gave up two runs in the eighth to take the loss.

With Colorado clinging to a 5-4 lead after seven innings, the Astros scored a pair in the top of the eighth to forge back in front. Castillo got things started with a lead-off single and advanced to second on Reggie Abercrombie's sacrifice bunt. Darin Erstad, pinch-hitting for Brad Ausmus, singled to center to plate Castillo and Newhan's pinch-hit triple brought in another to give the visitors a 6-5 lead.

"Once it got to the wall, it was great and I tried to get to third," Newhan said.

The Rockies went quietly in the bottom of the eighth and Castillo's run- scoring base hit in the top of the ninth gave the Astros a two-run cushion.

Valverde came in for the bottom of the ninth and the hard-throwing right- hander surrendered a hit, but struck out the side to end the game.

Houston drew first blood, plating three runs in the top of the third. Michael Bourn drew a lead-off walk and after he stole second, came around to score when Loretta lined a base hit to center. After a two-base hit by Miguel Tejada put runners on second and third, a sacrifice fly by Lance Berkman tacked on another run with Tejada advancing to third. Following a Hunter Pence free pass, Castillo's sac fly to right made it a 3-0 game.

Holliday's two-run double to left with one out in the bottom of the third cut Colorado's deficit to one.

With runners on first and third and one down in the top of the sixth, pinch- hitter Geoff Blum lifted a sac fly to left, scoring Abercrombie, who reached on a ground out. However, the Rockies grabbed a 5-4 lead in the bottom half on a three-run homer to right by Hawpe.

Game Notes

Houston begins a seven-game homestand on Monday night against Pittsburgh, while Colorado will head to Atlanta for a three-game series against the Braves starting on Tuesday night.