Astros end streak, give new manager first win

NEW YORK -- The Houston Astros ended a week's worth of futility, giving their manager and starting pitcher a pair of milestones.

Along the way, they increased the frustration of the New York Mets, beating them 3-1 at Citi Field on Friday night.

The Astros ended a seven-game losing streak and gave interim manager Tony DeFrancesco his first major-league victory after four defeats, in his return to his native New York.

"I'm sure my phone has got a few text messages," said DeFrancesco, who was born in Suffern, N.Y., grew up in the Bronx and had many friends and family in attendance. "A great win for these guys and I'm happy for the team the way they've battled back.

"After the game, they got me with some champagne and that means we're together," DeFrancesco, who replaced Brad Mills on Sunday, said of his players.

Astros starter Jordan Lyles (3-10) snapped a personal nine-game losing streak. After allowing at least four runs in five of his past seven starts, Lyles limited the punch-less Mets to one run on three hits in six innings, and even added a RBI double of his own.

"It's just one start, but it's big for me," Lyles said. "Hopefully that is the right step moving forward."

David Wright hit the 200th home run of his career and had two hits for the Mets, who continued their recent offensive woes.

New York has lost 14 of its past 18 games, scoring just seven runs in its last 10. Jon Niese (10-7) gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings.

The offensive ineptitude has left manager Terry Collins at a loss for answers.

"You give 'em time off, we didn't hit some days to keep 'em fresh. Extra work, hit in the cage," Collins said, ticking off the methods he and hitting coach Dave Hudgens have tried to get the hitters going. "... Dave Hudgens and I sat down this morning, 11:15 this morning, trying to come up with a game plan, trying to come up with a new theory, trying to come up with something that's gonna unlock the hit box and haven't found it yet."

Tyler Greene hit a solo homer for Houston in the seventh, giving the Astros a 3-1 lead. Wilton Lopez got Wright on a fielder's choice to end the eighth when he represented the tying run and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his second save of the season.

Wright acknowledged his disappointment in the team's slide, saying "if you watch the games, you see it. We're not scoring runs. It puts a lot of pressure on our pitchers to throw zeroes."

He said he was able to appreciate his milestone homer, which came with one out in the fourth, and made it 2-1.

"Of course, I mean, that's a lot of home runs," he said. "I'm proud that I've been as consistent as I'd like to think that I've been. I never thought I'd hit 200 home runs in the big leagues."

Off the field, Houston also was raising eyebrows with its owner's acknowledgement that he would consider a short-term deal should Roger Clemens want to return to the majors this year.

With Astros owner Jim Crane acknowledging he would consider a return for Clemens as the 50-year-old righty prepares for an independent minor-league appearance Saturday, DeFrancesco said he was open to whatever the team decided. Crane told KRIV-TV in Houston he thought the fans might like a Clemens return and "it might be fun and certainly get a few people in the ballpark." But Crane told the Houston Chronicle that Clemens would not be in the club's long-term plans.

The Astros are sending a scout to check out the appearance of Clemens and former major-leaguer Scott Kazmir for the Sugar Land Skeeters.

Down 2-0 in the fourth, the Mets cut the deficit in half on Wright's milestone homer. The ball hooked just fair down the right-field line, hitting the bottom of the pole, and the call was upheld after a replay.

Asked if it was a tough negotiation with the fan who got the ball, Wright said with a smile, "it was a sophomore in high school, so it was pretty easy."

The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-out walk and back-to-back doubles by their No. 8 and 9 hitters, including Lyles.

NOTES: Mets right-hander Collin McHugh was demoted to Class AAA Buffalo a day after striking out nine while throwing seven two-hit shutouts. The Mets needed a roster spot for Jeremy Hefner, who returns from paternity leave, and with off-days and their six-man rotation, manager Terry Collins said McHugh wouldn't have pitched for eight days. Collins said McHugh will return in September and make several starts. ... Second baseman Daniel Murphy will be rested at least Saturday and Sunday with Justin Turner starting in his place. ... Astros left-hander Fernando Abad will be called up Saturday and start. ... In honor of Merengue night, the Mets wore their "Los Mets" jerseys, had a Spanish-speaking guest public address announcer and held the annual postgame concert.