Framber Valdez wasn’t happy that right fielder Taylor Trammell was shifted halfway to center field instead of in right field on the play.

A fifth-inning RBI double from Mauricio Dubón comprised their only offense Monday. The Nationals own the highest bullpen ERA in the sport and used five pitchers in the opener of this three-game series. They scattered two singles and two doubles.

Riley Adams hits a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning, lifting the Washington Nationals to a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros

Four Houston pitchers -- starter Framber Valdez and relievers Bryan King, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader -- combined for 19 strikeouts. However, the Astros managed only four hits in a 2-1 loss to the Nationals, their sixth consecutive home loss and fifth straight defeat overall.

Lowe delivers a game-tying double in the sixth before Adams homers an inning later and the Nationals’ bullpen holds things down in a 2-1 win on the road.

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros take on the Washington Nationals after losing five games in a row. Houston is 33-24 at home and 60-47 overall. Astros hitters have a collective .320 on-base percentage, the sixth-ranked percentage in the AL.

Framber Valdez said "it doesn't make sense" that the Astros had their right fielder shaded so far toward center field with a left-hander batting against him.