HOUSTON (Interstat) — Isaac Paredes launched a three-run home run in the first inning and Christian Walker added a run-scoring triple in the third as the Houston Astros defeated the Athletics 5-1 on Friday night at Daikin Park.

The Astros snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 29-36, while the Athletics fell to 30-33 in the opener of a three-game series. Peter Lambert earned the win, allowing one run on five hits over six innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Lambert improved to 5-4. Jack Perkins took the loss for Oakland, surrendering five runs on five hits over three innings while walking two and striking out two. Perkins dropped to 2-3.

Houston seized control immediately in the bottom of the first. Jeremy Peña led off with a sharp line-drive single to center field. Yordan Alvarez walked, putting runners at first and second. After Christian Walker flied out to right, Paredes crushed a 1-1 pitch to left-center field for his ninth home run of the season, scoring Peña and Alvarez to give the Astros a 3-0 lead. Jose Altuve struck out and Cam Smith struck out swinging to end the inning, but the damage was done.

The Athletics had a chance to answer in the top of the second. Tyler Soderstrom walked with one out, and Henry Bolte followed with a soft ground-ball single to third, advancing Soderstrom to second. Zack Gelof then singled on a fly ball to first baseman Christian Walker, loading the bases. But Jeff McNeil struck out swinging and Darell Hernaiz also struck out swinging, stranding all three runners.

Houston extended its lead in the third. Jeremy Peña grounded out to shortstop to start the inning. Yordan Alvarez then singled sharply to right field. Christian Walker stepped in and tripled on a line drive to right field, scoring Alvarez to make it 4-0. Isaac Paredes followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Walker to score and stretching the lead to 5-0. Jose Altuve grounded out to third to end the inning.

Oakland’s offense remained stagnant against Lambert through the middle innings. After a 1-2-3 top of the third, the Athletics put together a threat in the fourth when Henry Bolte singled to left field with one out. But Zack Gelof grounded into a double play, third baseman Nick Allen to second baseman Jose Altuve to first baseman Christian Walker, erasing the baserunner.

The Athletics finally got on the board in the sixth. With one out, Brent Rooker homered to left field, his ninth home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 5-1. Tyler Soderstrom then walked, and Henry Bolte doubled to center field, putting runners at second and third with one out. But Zack Gelof struck out swinging and Jeff McNeil lined out sharply to second baseman Jose Altuve, ending the inning and preserving Houston’s four-run lead.

The Astros bullpen took over from there. Enyel De Los Santos worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two. Josh Hader closed the game with a perfect ninth, striking out three batters on 10 pitches. Hader’s four-out save kept Houston in control.

Offensively for Houston, Peña finished 1 for 3 with a walk and a run. Alvarez went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run. Walker was 1 for 3 with a triple, a run batted in and a run. Paredes drove in three runs on his home run. Jake Meyers went 1 for 3. Altuve was 1 for 4. Nick Allen, Cam Smith and Christian Vázquez each went hitless in three or four at-bats.

For Oakland, Henry Bolte collected two hits, including a double. Brent Rooker homered. Zack Gelof singled. The Athletics managed only five hits total and struck out 13 times. The game lasted 2 hours, 34 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 32,420.

The Athletics entered the game having split a three-game series in Chicago against the Cubs, winning two of three. They had lost four of their previous six before that. Houston had lost two straight to Pittsburgh, including a 5-1 defeat Thursday. The Astros had won seven of their previous 10 before the current series began.

The two teams continue the series Saturday and Sunday at Daikin Park before the Athletics return home to face the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. Houston travels to Los Angeles to face the Angels on Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Houston 5, 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Houston a 55.60 percent probability to win. had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of six runs went over the over-under line of nine.