River Ryan Strikes Out 8 in First Major League Win, Dodgers Hit 3 Homers in 6-2 Victory Over Astros

“That was a good win from start to finish,” Lux said. “To get one against a really good team, obviously avoid the sweep, get some momentum going into the off day. I think we all really wanted that.”

With the Dodgers holding a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning, Hernández turned away a Bryan King slider, sending it 361 feet into the left-field benches. Cavan Biggio extended the Dodgers’ lead with an RBI single to center, scoring Lux, who had been walking, to make it 5-2.

Jason Heyward scored another run with an RBI sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, scoring Ohtani.

“We needed everything,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We got production across the lineup. That was good.”

After the first inning, Ryan (1-0) retired six of the next 10 batters he faced in the fourth. The rookie didn’t allow a hit until Jon Singleton doubled off the right field bullpen fence to lead off the sixth inning.

Ryan retired the next two batters with flyballs to center field, but had already thrown his 91st pitch, so Roberts decided to go to the bullpen.

“It was good to see him use that four-pitch mix effectively,” Roberts said. “We pushed him. I don’t think he’s thrown more than 74 pitches in his professional career. He was in a good position and I thought he left it there. He gave us everything he had.”

Ryan gave up one run on two hits and walked three in 5 2/3 innings.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s something you work for your whole life as a pitcher in the big leagues,” Ryan said of his first win. “Luckily I was able to come up with a W today.”

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti (4-9) retired five of the first eight batters he faced, starting in the second inning and ending with a solo home run to Outman in the fifth.

“I felt good, try to treat everybody the same,” Arrighetti said. “Obviously, a full stadium on a Sunday against the Dodgers, I’m going to be a little excited. I was happy it worked out.”

Lux continued his hot streak with a 379-foot two-run homer to right field in the sixth. Since the All-Star break, Lux has homered three times and driven in seven runs.

“He’s performing very well and playing well,” Roberts said.

Arrighetti gave up three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out eight.

Yainer Diaz hit a home run in the sixth inning for the Astros, but Houston went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

“Offensively, this guy can hit the ball with a barrel,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of Diaz. “He can hit the ball hard. He does a good job protecting Yordan Alvarez.”

LA’s Austin Barnes extended his hit streak to 12 games with a single to left field in the fifth inning.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (tight right triceps) will have a bullpen session on Friday.

Astros: RHP Jusin Verlander (neck strain) and RHP Luis Garcia (right elbow surgery) will both pitch from the mound at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday.

Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (8-6, 3.47 ERA) faces RHP Matt Waldron (6-9, 3.64 ERA) when Los Angeles opens a two-game series against the Padres on Tuesday.

Astros: RHP Jake Bloss (0-1, 6.94 ERA) faces RHP Paul Skenes (6-1, 1.93 ERA) as Houston opens a three-game home series against the Pirates on Monday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb