HOUSTON -- Derek Jeter hit a solo homer in the eighth inning off Doug Brocail and Joba Chamberlain pitched six strong innings in his first career road start to lead the New York Yankees to a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

Alex Rodriguez added an RBI single for the Yankees in their first regular-season game at Minute Maid Park.

Chamberlain allowed six hits and struck out two in his third career start, keeping the Yankees in the game as the offense struggled against Astros starter Shawn Chacon. Chacon, who played for the Yankees in 2005 and ‘06, gave up three hits and struck out two in 6 1-3 innings.

Brocail (2-1) started the eighth in relief of Wesley Wright and Jeter drove the second pitch he saw into the right-field seats, his fourth homer of the season and first since June 1.

Jose Veras (1-0) retired the Astros in order in the seventh and eighth, and Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save. Mariano Rivera had saved New York’s last 10 road victories, but manager Joe Girardi rested him after Rivera pitched for the fifth time in six days in Oakland on Thursday.

Ty Wigginton had an RBI single for the Astros, who’ve lost seven of nine.

The Yankees have won seven of 10 and moved two games over .500 (35-33) for the first time since April 24.

Bobby Abreu scored New York’s first run in the first inning on Rodriguez’s single to center.

Abreu reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and went to third when the throw by Astros catcher Brad Ausmus sailed into center field. It was Ausmus’ first error of the season.

Chamberlain allowed two harmless singles through the first three innings. The only time he looked shaky was when he struck out swinging in his first major league at-bat, facing Chacon in the third.

In the fourth, Chamberlan walked Carlos Lee after Lance Berkman reached on a fielder’s choice. Berkman was caught in a rundown on a double steal and Lee took second.

Wigginton singled and Lee was able to score when Hideki Matsui bobbled the ball in left field. Matsui, usually the Yankees’ designated hitter, started in left with pitchers required to bat in the NL park.

Chacon, meanwhile, retired 14 of 17 hitters between the second and sixth innings, giving up only two walks and a single by Jorge Posada.

Michael Bourn led off the Houston sixth with a single to right.  The speedy Bourn stole second on Chamberlain’s first pitch to Ausmus. Bourn tried to take third on a 2-1 pitch, but Posada threw him out.

Matsui led off the seventh with a single and Posada walked on Chacon’s 106^th pitch. Houston manager Cecil Cooper brought in Wright to relieve, and Wilson Betemit, pinch-hitting for Chamberlain, flew out to end the inning.

Brocail had not allowed a run in 10 appearances before Jeter’s homer. The Astros’ pitching staff has allowed 97 homers, the most in the majors.

Jeter leads the majors with 259 career hits in interleague play.

Notes:@ Chacon got a no-decision for the 10^th time in 14 starts this season. He started the season with nine consecutive no-decisions, setting a major league record. ... The Astros stole four bases in the game, tying a season high. They lead the NL with 72 steals, seven more than they had all of last season. ... Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani threw out the first pitch. A die-hard Yankees fan, Giuliani had a front-row seat near Astros owner Drayton McLane.