Lucas Giolito’s longest outing in four years propelled the Red Sox to a 6-1, sweep-completing win over Astros on Sunday afternoon.

He stifled Houston’s lineup for eight innings, allowing one run and three hits. The lone blemish: a home run from Carlos Correa on a 92-mile-per-hour fastball left over the middle of the middle of the plate.

Giolito’s 103rd and final pitch was one of his best, a changeup to All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña, who swung and missed.

The last time Giolito had gone deeper into a game was Aug. 9, 2021, with the White Sox against the Twins.

The Red Sox have won five games in a row and seven of the last eight. At 62-51, they are 11 games over .500 for the first time since 2022.

The game turned during a six-run bottom of the fourth inning, a total meltdown for lefthander Framber Valdez and a series of fortunate events for the Sox.

Roman Anthony jumpstarted the rally with a leadoff double off the Green Monster. Romy Gonzalez’s walk gave them two on with no outs.

Trevor Story’s soft single to right field brought in the tying run, and he advanced to second on Jesús Sánchez’ ill-advised throw home, which had no chance of nabbing Anthony. Ceddanne Rafaela’s single through the drawn-in infield put the Sox ahead.

Then it got wacky: run-scoring balk by Valdez, wild pitch by Valdez, Abraham Toro single on a swinging bunt slow roller up the third-base line, Wilyer Abreu actual sacrifice bunt that Valdez misplayed for an error, a passed ball by catcher Yainer Diaz, a Connor Wong sacrifice fly to right for his second RBI of the year. Rob Refsnyder’s groundout brought in Abreu for the sixth run.

Valdez was fine before and after being a mess in the middle. He finished six innings with six runs allowed (four earned).

Tim Healey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @timbhealey.