HOUSTON — No player could ever hope to replace what David Ortiz meant to the Red Sox. But in Mookie Betts, a different kind of superstar is emerging.

With his glove, bat, and legs, Betts delivered a 2-1 victory for the Red Sox against the Houston Astros on Friday night.

His home run to left field in the eighth inning was the difference as the Sox opened a series against the team with the best record in baseball with an exciting victory.

Betts connected off Will Harris for his 12th home run, his third in three games. Betts is 14 of 33 in the last eight games with 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 walks, 8 runs, and 5 RBIs.

Betts also made a defensive play that saved a run.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the sixth inning, Carlos Correa singled to right field. Astros third base coach Gary Pettis, who apparently misplaced his scouting reports, waved George Springer to the plate. Betts fielded the single on a hop and fired home. The throw beat Springer by 20 feet to end the inning.

“That throw by Mookie helped me out,’’ said Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz. “The throw was there before [Springer] was halfway down the line.’’

Betts said his throw was more satisfying than the home run.

“The home run came at a big time,’’ he said. “But for fun, probably the throw. You don’t get those opportunities very much. For me to be successful that time was definitely something to take pride in.’’

Four Red Sox pitchers held the potent Astros to six hits. Craig Kimbrel finished up for his 19th save, retiring the side in order. Opponents are 8 of 102 (.078) against him this season with 58 strikeouts.

The Sox have won four of five and six of their last eight games. The Astros have lost seven of 10.

Pomeranz lasted only 9⅓ innings in his previous two starts and threw 216 pitches. His inefficiency had again become a problem.

But the lefthander took a three-hit shutout into the seventh inning and to that point had thrown only 92 pitches.

With Joe Kelly warming up, Pomeranz struck out Evan Gattis. Lefthanded-hitting Brian McCann, 1 for 8 in his career against Pomeranz, was next. Farrell stayed with Pomeranz, a reasonable decision.

His first pitch was a fastball down and away, but not enough of either. McCann drove it into the second deck in right field for his 10th home run.

That’s when Kelly came in. Yuli Gurriel doubled to left field and went to third on a groundout. The Sox then intentionally walked Derek Fisher after Kelly fell behind, 3 and 0.

Pinch hitter Nori Aoki saw nine pitches before lining out to Josh Rutledge to end the inning.

Pomeranz allowed one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. It was the second time in 13 starts he went more than six innings.

Leading off the top of the eighth against Harris, Betts drove a ball over the Crawford Boxes in left.

“That was a small snapshot of his skill set,’’ Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He’s a dynamic player.’’

In the bottom of the eighth, Matt Barnes worked out of a jam, getting an inning-ending double play.

The Sox had four hits and two walks in the first three innings against Mike Fiers, but scored only one run.

Dustin Pedroia singled with one out in the first inning then stole second with two outs. He was stranded when Mitch Moreland grounded to shortstop.

Jackie Bradley Jr. continued his offensive resurgence with a triple to the gap in left field with two outs in the second inning. Rutledge, starting at third base for Pablo Sandoval, hit a curveball sharply up the middle but Jose Altuve saved a run with a diving stop and strong throw to first.

Betts drew a walk to lead off the third inning. Pedroia followed with a hit-and-run single that sent Betts to third. Fiers struck out Xander Bogaerts, but Moreland this time delivered and RBI single to left field.

Andrew Benintendi walked to load the bases but Chris Young swung at the first pitch and grounded to shortstop.

Fiers retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced, 10 on groundballs. He has allowed five earned runs over 25⅓ innings in his last four starts.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.