ASTROS TAKE THE SERIES!

Astros move above .500 for 1st time this year, beat Mets 10-5

Astros Corey Julks, Yainer Diaz, Jake Meyers
Astros defeat the Mets in extras 10-5. Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros moved over .500 for the first time this season, beating the New York Mets 10-5 on Sunday for their ninth win in 10 games as Jake Myers hit a tiebreaking single in a five-run 11th inning.

Houston star Jose Altuve was ejected in the seventh after he threw his bat and helmet when umpires called him out on what appeared to be a foul ball.

Brandon Nimmo hit his 100th career homer for the Mets, a tying two-run drive in the seventh off Bryan Abreu.

With just a few thousand fans left at Citi Field after a 2-hour, 47-minute rain delay in the middle of the ninth, Chas McCormick put the Astros ahead 5-4 with an RBI single in the 10th off Adam Ottavino.

Nimmo responded with a tying double starting the bottom half against Tayler Scott (4-2), who stranded the potential winning run at third when Mark Vientos grounded out.

Matt Festa (0-1), a New York native from St. Joseph by the Sea High School in Staten Island, made his Mets debut and first big league appearance this season and gave up all five runs in bottom half. Myers hit a run-scoring single, Joey Loperfido followed with a two-run single and Trey Cabbage added a two-run double.

Houston (42-41) opened the season 7-19 and was 12-24 before play on May 9. The Astros took two of three from the Mets and finished 17-8 in June.

The Mets reached the halfway point at 40-41, rebounding after they dropped to 24-35 in early June. They have been outscored 29-9 in extra innings this season, going 3-8 in those games

The Astros had a 4-2 lead and runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh when Altuve appeared to foul a ball off his left foot. The ball went on three hops to Vientos at third, and he threw to first as Altuve remained around the batter’s box, hopping. James Jean, umpiring behind the plate for the first time after making his major league debut Friday, didn’t signal a foul ball.

Altuve argued and manager Joe Espada came onto the field. The four umpires conferenced — that type of call is not subject to a video review — and crew chief Alan Porter signaled the out call. Altuve then slammed his helmet and bat was ejected for the second time in his big league career, the first since Aug. 6, 2016, when he was tossed for arguing balls and strikes with Porter.

Mets starter Luis Severino allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings. Houston’s Shawn Dubin, starting a bullpen game, pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings with three walks.

Jon Singleton put Houston ahead in the second with his sixth home run of the season and first since May 21. Yainer Diaz hit an RBI single in a two-run fifth that included Meyers’ run-scoring groundout, and Altuve blooped an RBI single in the sixth for a 4-0 lead.

Held hitless for five innings, the Mets cut the gap in the sixth against Seth Martinez on Vientos’ two-out, two-run double over leaping third baseman Alex Bregman.

Nimmo tied the score in the seventh with his 13th home run this season, a two-run drive off Bryan Abreu.

New York optioned right-hander Tylor Megill and left-hander Danny Young to Triple-A Syracuse, and selected the contracts of lefty Tyler Jay and Festa from its top farm team. Outfielder Duke Ellis was designated for assignment and lefty Brooks Raley (elbow inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day IL.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Jake Bloss (right shoulder discomfort) threw a 20-pitch bullpen.

Mets: RHP Edwin Díaz pitched batting practice against players from the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones. Barring rainouts, he can return July 6 from his 10-day suspension for using prohibited grip substances.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Hunter Brown (5-5, 4.37 ERA) starts Monday’s series opener at Toronto, which is going with RHP Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA).

Mets: LHP David Peterson (3-0, 3.67 ERA) will be on the mound Monday night for the Mets at Washington, and the Nationals are going with LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-7, 3.60 ERA).

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Spencer Arrighetti makes the start for Houston. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.

Houston Astros (43-41, second in the AL West) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (38-46, fifth in the AL East)

Toronto; Tuesday, 7:07 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (4-6, 5.68 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 75 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Jose Berrios (7-6, 3.38 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 76 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Blue Jays -115, Astros -105; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros will try to keep a three-game road win streak going when they take on the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto has gone 20-22 at home and 38-46 overall. The Blue Jays have the 10th-ranked team slugging percentage in the AL at .374.

Houston is 43-41 overall and 19-22 on the road. The Astros have the top team batting average in the AL at .264.

The matchup Tuesday is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The Astros have a 3-1 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads Toronto with 13 home runs while slugging .471. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is 16-for-38 with three home runs and four RBI over the past 10 games.

Jose Altuve has a .304 batting average to lead the Astros, and has 17 doubles and 13 home runs. Yainer Diaz is 17-for-42 with eight RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 3-7, .247 batting average, 5.65 ERA, outscored by 13 runs

Astros: 9-1, .298 batting average, 3.36 ERA, outscored opponents by 30 runs

Today's Astros lineup.

Photo via: MLB.com/screenshot.

INJURIES: Blue Jays: Isiah Kiner-Falefa: day-to-day (knee), Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: day-to-day (finger), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Romano: 15-Day IL (elbow), Alek Manoah: 15-Day IL (elbow)

Astros: Jake Bloss: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Victor Caratini: 10-Day IL (hip), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Kyle Tucker: 10-Day IL (shin), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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