After a disappointing series against the Twins over the weekend where they dropped three of four, the Astros entered Tuesday fresh off a day off to welcome in the Rockies for a quick two-game series. Houston looked much like themselves in the opener, stringing together hits to score runs and get the win.

Final Score: Astros 5, Rockies 0

Astros' Record: 67-46, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Jake Odorizzi (5-6)

Losing Pitcher: Jon Gray (7-8)

Houston's offense springs to life in the fourth

After three and a half innings with little offense to speak about on both sides, the Astros sprung to life in the bottom of the fourth. They put two runners on base, setting up Chas McCormick for a two-out RBI single to score the game's first run. Taylor Jones came up next, adding two more on a two-RBI double, giving Houston a 3-0 lead.

Jose Altuve led off the bottom of the next inning by reaching base on a hit by pitch, then scored from first on an RBI double by Michael Brantley, extending the lead to 4-0. They continued to threaten in the frame, chasing Jon Gray out of the game before loading the bases against Colorado's first reliever, but would not tack on more runs.

Odorizzi goes five scoreless

The lead put Jake Odorizzi in a winning position as he was holding the Rockies scoreless. He faced trouble in the second, putting two runners on base with no outs on a single and walk, but was able to strand both. He went on to allow just two more on base, a two-out single in the top of the fourth and a two-out single in the top of the fifth. His night would end there, giving his team five shutout innings, making his final line 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 81 P.

Astros take the opener

Cristian Javier took over on the mound in the top of the sixth, working around a one-out walk to keep the shutout going. The Astros made it three innings in a row with a run, this time a two-out RBI single by Jose Altuve in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-0. Javier remained in the game in the top of the seventh and erased a single and a walk to keep the score there.

Blake Taylor was Houston's next reliever, coming in to face the left-handed portion of Colorado's lineup in the top of the eighth. He retired two then issued a walk before Yimi Garcia entered to finish the frame. In the top of the ninth, the Astros got the debut of Pedro Baez, an offseason acquisition who started the year on the IL. He made it a good one, finishing off the shutout win by erasing a leadoff single with a strikeout and a double play.

Up Next: The finale of this short two-game series will be an afternoon game at 1:10 PM Central on Wednesday. Framber Valdez (7-3, 3.22 ERA) for the Astros will oppose Antonio Senzatela (2-8, 4.73 ERA).