Astros 7, Yankees 4: Chris Carter rebounded after striking out in his first four at-bats by belting the go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth inning as visiting Houston won the opener of a three-game series.

With the score tied at 4-4, Carter received the green light on a 3-0 fastball from David Robertson (1-4) and deposited it into the bleachers in left field for his career-high 30th homer. The mammoth blast by the reigning American League Player of the Week made a winner of Josh Fields (3-6), who overcame two hits in one inning of relief while pitching on his 29th birthday.

Marwin Gonzalez ripped a pinch-hit two-run single to seize a 4-2 lead in the sixth for the Astros, who took two of three from New York to open the season. Gregorio Petit had a pair of doubles and scored on Robbie Grossman's RBI single in the fifth before Dexter Fowler slapped a stand-up triple and scored on a groundout in the following frame.

Brian McCann belted a two-run homer in the fourth and Martin Prado added a two-run double in the sixth for the Yankees, who have dropped six of their last eight to fall four games out in the race for the second wild card in the AL. Jacoby Ellsbury matched Prado with three hits and Chris Capuano walked away with a no-decision on his 36th birthday after allowing four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Robertson was booed heartily as he exited after permitting three runs on two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning. Chad Qualls retired the side in order in the ninth for his 14th save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York SS Derek Jeter originally tied Honus Wagner for sixth place on the all-time hits list with an infield single on Aug. 8, but Major League Baseball on Tuesday ruled that Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana was given an error instead. ... McCann opened the scoring in the fourth by depositing an 0-2 curveball from LHP Brett Oberholtzer into the second deck in right field for his 14th homer - with 12 coming at Yankee Stadium. ... Houston activated INF/OF Jesus Guzman (back spasms) from the 15-day disabled list and placed LHP Darin Downs on the DL with a right oblique strain.