HOUSTON -- It was nearly 10 years ago that the Astros called top prospect Jon Singleton with the hope that he would be a cornerstone player when the team’s rebuild was complete. Singleton, Jose Altuve and George Springer, among others, represented the future of the offense in Houston.

A decade-long winding road that included multiple suspensions for marijuana use, time out of baseball and a stint in the Mexican League derailed Singleton’s career, but he found his way back to Houston last year. And now he’s getting his opportunity to be the Astros’ starting first baseman.

Singleton, who’s taken over the full-time job at first base following the option of struggling slugger José Abreu, hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning and drove in three runs to lead the Astros to an 8-2 victory over the Guardians and a series win Thursday night at Minute Park. He was 4-for-9 with two homers and six RBIs in the Cleveland series.

“Honestly, just here to help our team win ballgames, whatever that may be,” Singleton said. “It was my chance and I’m trying to do the most day by day.”

After a promising stint in the Mexican League in 2021, Singleton signed a Minor League contract with the Brewers in ‘22 and endured a roller-coaster start to ‘23 during which he was on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster, then released when the club needed to free a spot, then re-signed to continue a quest to get back to the big leagues. Houston signed him last June and kept him on the 40-man roster all winter.

“He does things that as an organization we value,” manager Joe Espada said. “He’s been a guy that’s always been able to swing at strikes. Obviously, we know how hard he hits the ball, but the zone control from the left side, it’s something that’s always done really well. We always like that. We have kept him because we know if we can get him some opportunities to play we could tap into that talent that he has and it’s starting to show.”

Singleton put the Astros ahead Thursday when he hit a towering homer to right field off Logan Allen in the sixth that made it 3-2. The Astros sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five times in the seventh inning, including a two-run, bases-loaded single by Yainer Diaz. Singleton added a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring.

“Any time you can score a run with two outs like that in a tight ballgame, it was huge for all of us,” Singleton said.

Singleton has hit safely in 10 of his past 13 starts this year and is slashing .275/.357/.431 with two homers in 51 at-bats. Last year with the Astros, he had two home runs in 91 at-bats -- both of which came in the same game: Aug. 11, 2023 against the Angels.

“I was like ‘Who is this dude?’” said shortstop Jeremy Peña, who went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI, stolen base and two runs scored. “I feel like he puts together great at-bats. Every single at-bat, he puts together great at-bats and he works. I’m happy he’s having the results he’s having.”

Abreu agreed to be optioned to the Minor Leagues earlier this week and was set to report to the Astros' Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., to try to get his timing back amid his early-season struggles. Abreu was hitting .099 with a .269 OPS, one extra-base hit and three RBIs over 22 games to start the season.

Singleton has started all three games at first base since Abreu’s departure.

“That’s what you do when someone gives you an opportunity and you take advantage of it,” Espada said. “Not only with the bat, but he’s also played pretty good defense.”

Indeed. Singleton made a diving stop of a Bo Naylor grounder and flipped to reliever Tayler Scott -- who picked up his first career win -- to start the seventh. He and Peña teamed up on the next play to retire Gabriel Arias. Peña fielded a ball in the hole and made a Derek Jeter-like jump throw to a stretched-out Singleton for the out at first.

“I feel like I got a good break on it -- good break, good jump,” Peña said. “I got the ball and the goal was to get it over there and I know Singy is going to pick me up. That’s what I tried to do and Singy came through.”