HOUSTON -- The Diamondbacks desperately needed a win to close out their six-game road trip, and they got a huge offensive output to secure it.

Pavin Smith had a career-high three home runs -- a three-run homer, a grand slam and a solo blast -- and eight RBIs as Arizona snapped a three-game losing streak with a 12-6 win over Houston on Sunday night at Minute Maid Park.

The D-backs, who scored at least 10 runs for a Major League-best 18th time, remained 6 1/2 games back of the Dodgers in the National League West and a half-game behind the Padres for the first NL Wild Card spot while holding a 1 1/2-game lead over the Braves and Mets for the second Wild Card spot.

“After the last two games, we tried to finish the road trip strong,” said Eugenio Suárez. “We’re going home with a W, which is very important because of the division and Wild Card. … We are there. We have the opportunity to make it. That’s our mentality right now: play hard and try to make the playoffs.”

It was Smith’s first career multihomer game. He became the second Arizona player to hit three homers in a game this season, joining Suárez, who did it against Washington on July 30.

“It’s one of those nights where you’re kind of in a zone,” Smith said. “... Once I was able to put a good swing on the first at-bat, it gave me confidence for the rest of the game.”

J.D. Martinez is the only player in D-backs history to hit four home runs in a game, accomplishing the feat at the Dodgers on Sept. 4, 2017.

Smith said he was trying to hit a fourth, but he struck out and walked in his last two plate appearances.

“It’s something that not many people have done,” Smith said. “And I figured if you had a chance, you might as well go for it.”

Smith’s seven RBIs in the first three innings are a Diamondbacks record, per MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. He became the third player in Arizona history to drive in at least eight runs in a game. Erubiel Durazo has the franchise record with nine RBIs against the Phillies on May 17, 2002, and Chris Iannetta had eight against the Marlins on Sept. 22, 2017.

“It was a great day for Pavin,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “Pavin can hit. We always feel comfortable with his at-bats, his ability to come into the lineup after not playing for a couple days and be able to barrel up the baseball. He knows the strike zone. He knows his swing as good as anyone right now. It’s not a surprise to us that he barreled up the baseball the way he did today.”

The D-backs jumped on Astros starter Justin Verlander for eight runs in the second and third innings.

Smith launched a three-run homer off the right-field foul pole in the second and an opposite-field grand slam into the Crawford Boxes to cap a five-run third. Suárez hit an RBI single before the grand slam.

Smith then led off the fifth with a solo shot off reliever Kaleb Ort just inside the right-field foul pole.

Suárez hit a solo home run in the ninth. He tied career highs with four hits and four runs scored.

“We came here to compete today,” Suárez said. “We had a different mentality after the first two games that we lost. We just tried to beat them. We know Verlander is one of the best pitchers in the league. He tried to attack us with the fastball, and we were ready. We made a good plan against him, and we were seeing the ball really good.”

The offensive onslaught was needed, as starter Ryne Nelson exited after 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts. The D-backs’ bullpen threw 4 1/3 innings, surrendering one run.

Arizona heads home still in the thick of the playoff race with 18 games left.

“We played a lot of must-win games over the last month and a half, and I think that conditions you for where we’re trying to go,” Lovullo said. “We don’t want to take anything for granted. This was a big win. I don’t want to worry about what’s going on anywhere other than in our clubhouse. If we play our game and do what we’re capable of, we’re going to be just fine.”