HOUSTON -- Following the hoopla over the arrival of uber-prospect Carlos Correa last week, it became easy to overlook the continued development of Houston Astros right fielder George Springer.

On Monday night, Springer was impossible to disregard, in the field and at the plate.

After making a dazzling, diving catch to limit a Colorado rally in the sixth inning, Springer provided insurance with his second home run of the night in the seventh, carrying the Astros to a 6-3 victory over the Rockies at Minute Maid Park.

After the Rockies clawed within two runs on an RBI double by catcher Nick Hundley in the top of the seventh, Springer responded by belting his 10th home run of the season leading off the bottom of the frame. He clubbed a fastball the opposite way into the Astros bullpen off Colorado right-hander LaTroy Hawkins to provide the Houston bullpen some added cushion.

"Just trying to slow myself down and I understand if I get something to hit, I have to hit it," said Springer, who extended his hitting streak to eight games by going 3-for-4 with three runs. "For me, it's all about getting on base and just getting to first for whoever is behind me because whoever is behind me can hit, too."

The Houston bullpen trio of left-hander Joe Thatcher and right-handers Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson, who notched his 16th save, preserved the lead for ace left-hander Dallas Keuchel (8-2) and recorded the first save for Houston since June 2 against the Orioles.

Colorado (28-35) dropped its 12th consecutive interleague road game.

Continuing a trend established during both weekend victories over the Seattle Mariners, the Astros (37-28) seized control with a first-inning scoring outburst.

Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis (2-2) surrendered three hits before recording his first out, with Astros left fielder Preston Tucker driving home Springer with a single that also advanced Correa to third base.

Following a strikeout of designated hitter Evan Gattis, Bettis surrendered his first home run of the season, a three-run blast to Astros center fielder Colby Rasmus. Houston boosted the lead to 5-0 three batters into the second inning when Springer hit a solo shot to left field.

"It's almost always location," Bettis said. "That's what it's all about. Got some pitches on the plate, and they didn't miss those."

For a decent spell, that five-run lead appeared to be gratuitous for Keuchel, whose groundball-inducing form was in full swing from his first inning. He retired the Rockies in order on three grounders in the first, recorded two in succession to close the second, and then got a groundball out from center fielder Charlie Blackmon to cap the third.

"I think it was a mixture of me throwing good and I think their aggressiveness was helping me out," said Keuchel, who allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. "The first couple of innings set the tone for the next three."

By the close of the fifth, Keuchel had retired all 15 batters he faced, 10 on groundball outs. He lost his perfect game with a full-count walk to Rockies left fielder Rafael Ynoa to open the sixth, and his no-hitter vanished immediately thereafter when Hundley followed with a sharp single to right.

When shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and third baseman Nolan Arenado added consecutive RBI singles, the Astros' lead was sliced to 5-2, but Keuchel was able to maintain control until reinforcements arrived.

"He's not overpowering, but he's a tough guy to square up," Hundley said of Keuchel. "You see the type of contact we were getting early. He did a good job keeping the ball down in the zone. Expanded the zone down when he needed to. Felt like he was 0-1 to pretty much everybody."

NOTES: The Astros announced the signing of their second first-round pick (fifth overall), OF Kyle Tucker of H.B.