Boston Red Sox right fielder Hunter Renfroe slides while trying to catch a single by Houston Astros’ Myles Straw in the eighth inning Tuesday night at Houston. David J. Phillip/Associated Press

HOUSTON — Luis Garcia threw a career-high seven innings, Jose Altuve homered and the Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory.

Garcia (4-3) permitted one run and six hits, retiring 11 of 12 batters over one stretch. The right-hander struck out six and walked one in his fourth consecutive win.

Altuve led off the first with his eighth homer, a drive to left-center against Garrett Richards (4-4). It was Altuve’s third leadoff homer this season.

Chas McCormick drove in Yordan Alvarez with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and Houston opened a 5-1 lead with three runs in the seventh.

Kyle Tucker, who had three hits, scored on an error by second baseman Marwin Gonzalez. Carlos Correa drove in Myles Straw with a bases-loaded walk, and Alvarez had a run-scoring infield single.

Alvarez had two hits in his return to the lineup after missing five games with a sore right wrist. The Astros won despite going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Richards surrendered two runs and four hits in six innings. He has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last four starts.

Boston pitchers walked eight, including Altuve three times. Alex Verdugo had two hits for the Red Sox.