(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)

Jose Altuve, Cooper Hummel and Yainer Diaz homered and the Houston Astros defeated the visiting Washington Nationals 9-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

The Astros took the series 2-1 after losing five of their previous six games. Altuve was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs as he extended his franchise record for career four-hit games to 41.

The Nationals, who had won three of four coming into Wednesday, lost their second straight.

Houston starter Ryan Gusto (7-4) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, walking one and striking out five on a career-high 102 pitches to earn the victory. The right-hander retired 13 of 14 from the last three batters of the second inning through the first batter in the sixth.

Altuve gave Houston a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the second with a two-out, three-run homer. He drove MacKenzie Gore's first-pitch hanging changeup into the left field stands for his 18th home run.

The Astros scored five in the sixth on homers from Hummel and Diaz to make it 9-1.

Hummel's two-run homer ended the day for Nationals starter Gore (4-11). Hummel's third home run of the season, down the left field line, came on a 3-2, four-seam fastball.

Gore gave up six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts. Diaz hit a two-out, three-run homer off reliever Cole Henry for his 15th home run.

The Nationals tied it 1-1 on Daylen Lile's sacrifice fly in the second inning.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Cam Smith.

Washington made a trade just before the game, sending relief pitchers Andrew Chafin and Louis Garcia to the Los Angeles Angels for left-handed pitcher Jake Eder and first baseman Sam Brown.

--Field Level Media