HOUSTON -- Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie blasted a home run and drove in three runs against his former team as the Astros salvaged a game from the home series with the Oakland Athletics with a 6-1 victory Wednesday at Minute Maid Park on Jackie Robinson Day.

All players in the Major Leagues wore No. 42 in honor of Robinson, who broke MLB's color barrier 68 years ago when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field against the Boston Braves.

Houston right-hander Collin McHugh (2-0) earned the win with 5 2/3 innings of one-run, six-hit pitching in which he struck out 11 and did not walk a batter. McHugh, who was fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2014, has now struck out 15 batters and walked just two in 11 2/3 innings of work this season.

Left-hander Tony Sipp (1 1/3 innings), right-hander Chad Qualls (one inning) and right-hander Luke Gregerson (one inning) followed McHugh to the mound and allowed just two hits combined.

Lowrie, who played for the Astros in 2012 before being traded to Oakland prior to the 2013 season, went 2-for-3 with a run scored. He also made two sterling plays in the field to rob the A's of hits and key baserunners early in the game.

The Astros (4-5) also got two hits from second baseman Jose Altuve, while third baseman Luis Valbuena and DH Evan Gattis hit solo home runs to help stop a two-game losing streak.

Left-hander Drew Pomeranz (1-1) took the loss for Oakland (5-5) by giving up four runs (all earned) and six hits in five-plus innings of work. He struck out five and walked one. He was followed to the mound by right-hander Evan Scribner (two innings) and right-hander R.J. Alvarez (one inning).

First baseman Ike Davis had two of the A's eight hits. Oakland left seven runners on base, including five in scoring position.

Lowrie's first-inning homer was his third of the year and plated Altuve, who led off the game with a ringing double to extend his hitting streak to six games.

The A's cut the lead to 2-1 in the second when they had four singles, the last of which came when shortstop Marcus Semien beat out a slow roller to shortstop with the bases loaded to score designated hitter Billy Butler.

Houston added to it advantage in the third with two outs when right fielder George Springer singled and came home on a hit-and-run double into the right field corner by Lowrie. Then, in the fifth, center fielder Jake Marisnick tripled and Altuve singled through the drawn-in infield to push the Astros' lead to 4-1.

NOTES: With a second-inning single, DH Billy Butler became the first player to begin his Oakland career with a 10-game hitting streak. Alfredo Griffin had a nine-game streak in April 1985. ... A's 2B Ben Zobrist (bruised right heel) was held out of the starting lineup. "With the off day tomorrow, we felt like we ought to take care of it right now," manager Bob Melvin said. ... Oakland LHP Sean Dolittle played catch Tuesday with positive results, throwing from 105 to 120 feet, according to Melvin. Dolittle is on the disabled list due to a partial tear in his left rotator cuff. ... Astros RHP Will Harris began the night with a streak of 19 scoreless appearances (20 2/3 innings) dating back to Aug. 19, 2014. ... Wednesday's game marked the sixth of 15 straight for the Astros against AL West division opponents. Houston will see each AL West club over the next two weeks. The Astros went 35-41 in division games last season.