Astros stumble at home in one-sided Red Sox clash

Astros Jeremy Pena, sad
The Red Sox beat the Astros, 14-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Alex Bregman homered against his former team for a second straight game and Carlos Narváez added a three-run shot to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 14-1 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

Dustin May (7-8) scattered five singles across six scoreless and struck out eight in his second start since a trade from the Dodgers.

The loss drops the Astros into a tie with Seattle for the AL West lead after the Mariners beat the Orioles 1-0 for their eighth consecutive win Tuesday.

Bregman, who is playing in Houston as a visitor for the first time this week, hit another two-run home run Tuesday night after hitting one in his first at-bat in Monday night’s 7-6 loss. He spent his first nine seasons with the Astros before signing with the Red Sox this offseason.

His homer came after Narváez slugged a three-run shot as Boston scored five runs with two outs in the sixth to push the lead to 7-0.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti (1-3) struggled with command in his second start since missing four months with a broken right thumb. He allowed just one hit and two runs, but walked a career-high five in five innings.

The bases were loaded with one out in the third when Arrighetti plunked Trevor Story on the hand to make it 1-0. The Red Sox made it 2-0 when Roman Anthony, who hit a solo homer in the eighth, scored on a sacrifice fly by Masataka Yoshida.

Wilyer Abreu hit an RBI double in the seventh and a two-run double in Boston’s four-run eighth that made it 12-0.

The Red Sox added two runs in the ninth with outfielder Chas McCormick on the mound.

Key moment

The home run by Narváez that padded the lead in the sixth inning.

Key stat

Bregman’s home run Tuesday was his 96th in the regular season at Daikin Park.

Up next

Houston RHP Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.51 ERA) opposes RHP Walker Buehler (7-6, 5.40) in the series finale Wednesday night.

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Spencer Arrighetti takes the mound against Boston in Game 2. Composite Getty Image.

The Astros look to keep their momentum rolling at home Tuesday night as they continue their series with the Boston Red Sox in a matchup that carries weight in both leagues’ playoff races. Houston has quietly built a three-game win streak at Daikin Park, finding ways to win tight games and generate timely offense. They’ll aim to make it four behind rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who’s still searching for consistent rhythm at the big-league level but will have the crowd at his back.

Arrighetti (1-2, 7.43 ERA) draws a challenge in a Boston lineup that’s had the upper hand in the season series, winning three of four meetings so far. The Red Sox counter with right-hander Dustin May, whose results have been streaky but who has shown flashes of dominance when his command is on.

Houston’s offense once again leans on Jose Altuve, who has 21 home runs and 63 RBIs, while Christian Walker has heated up with extra-base power over the last 10 games. For Boston, Trevor Story leads the charge with 73 RBIs, and Romy Gonzalez has been one of the American League’s hottest hitters in August.

The Astros’ winning formula this season has been simple — keep the ball in the yard. They’re 31-7 in games where they haven’t allowed a home run. The Red Sox follow their own blueprint, becoming almost impossible to beat when their bats come alive, posting a 42-12 record when scoring five or more runs.

With Houston clinging to a slim AL West lead (1 game) and Boston looking to keep pace in the AL East, Tuesday’s contest has all the makings of another charged night under the lights, where every pitch could shift the October picture.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -117, Red Sox -103; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.

Injury updates and roster moves

Astros closer Josh Hader is heading to the 15-day IL with a left shoulder strain. RHP Shawn Dubin has been reinstated from the 15-day IL. LHP Colton Gordon has been recalled from Triple A and RHP Hector Neris has been designated for assignment.

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart shared some more updates in the post below

Astros lineup takeaways

The top 3 in the lineup remains the same, with Pena (SS) leading off, followed by Correa (3B), and Altuve (DH). Jesus Sanchez will hit cleanup and play right field, with Christian Walker now in the 5-spot playing first base. Yainer Diaz will hit sixth and catch, with Taylor Trammell batting seventh and playing left. Ramon Urias (2B) is back in the lineup after a huge game on Monday night, he'll hit eighth. Finally, Jacob Melton returns hitting ninth and playing center field.

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