Complete gem: McHugh, bats shine in win

PHOENIX — Astros starter Collin McHugh pitched a complete-game gem and his club’s offense lit up D-backs starter Edwin Escobar in his first Major League start, striking for eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits against the left-hander in an 8-3 win over Arizona on Monday afternoon at Chase Field.

McHugh (5-4) cruised to his first win in three weeks, allowing three runs on five hits in his first career complete game, the first by a Houston starter this season. The right-hander retired the side in order five times and struck out eight in leading the Astros to their sixth win in seven games.

“We needed him to go as long as he could today given our bullpen, the extra-inning game yesterday,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “Not only did he give us length, but he gave us quality and really was in control the whole game.”

Houston scored four runs in the second, two in the third and another pair in the fourth, chasing Escobar after 3 1/3 innings. Five players collected multiple hits as the Astros won for the sixth time in seven games. Jason Castro drove in three runs, reaching base four times, and Carlos Correa plated a pair. George Springer also reached base four times, collecting a trio of singles.

D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt homered in the first inning, providing their only run until Jean Segura’s RBI triple in the eighth. Jake Lamb also homered as Arizona lost for the 12th time in 18 games.

“He tightened it up, and he used all portions of the zone,” D-backs manager Chip Hale said of McHugh. “He bounced a bunch of breaking balls that we swung at. He did a nice job. He did a real nice job.”

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