SWEEP!
Breggy hits 3-run HR, Yordan follows with solo shot as Astros pound Red Sox 10-2
Aug 11, 2024, 4:12 pm
SWEEP!
Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer to key a five-run fifth inning, Yordan Alvarez followed with his third homer in two games and the Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 10-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.
Breggy bringing the heat to Fenway! 🥵#Relentless pic.twitter.com/YL0n93PIaI
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 11, 2024
It was the fifth straight win for the AL West-leading Astros, who also swept a three-game series in Fenway Park last season. Houston has won seven of its last eight series in Boston.
The Big Man is dominating. 😤#Relentless pic.twitter.com/ngjItfuMui
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 11, 2024
Jeremy Peña added a two-run homer and Yainer Diaz had a two-run double for the Astros, who improved to a season-best seven games over .500 (62-55).
Boston starter James Paxton limped off the field after straining his right calf while making a quick move to cover first on a grounder in the opening inning.
The Red Sox have lost four straight, and they’ve given up a major-league worst 47 homers since the All-Star break. Boston came in an MLB-best 16-3 in Sunday games.
Boston first baseman Dominic Smith pitched a scoreless ninth, with his first pitch recorded at 32 mph. He tipped his cap walking off after getting a loud ovation.
Hunter Brown (10-7) struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs.
With Houston leading 1-0, Bregman hit a shot against Brennan Bernardino an estimated 441 feet that left Fenway completely over the Green Monster. Alvarez then sent his drive into the center-field bleachers.
Alvarez went 2 for 2, increasing his average to .482 in 15 career games in Fenway with eight homers and 20 RBIs.
After hitting two homers a day earlier, the 27-year-old slugger was compared by Red Sox manager Alex Cora to Hall of Famer and former Red Sox star David Ortiz, along with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
“For me, he’s up there with Judge, to be honest with you,” Cora said. “Closest thing to David, probably, in the game. Very, very, very similar to David Ortiz.”
Peña’s drive also cleared the Monster seats, coming in a four-run sixth that made it 10-0.
Reliever Lucas Sims (1-6) was the loser after Bernardino’s wild pitch allowed a runner that he left on to score
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Manager Joe Espada said “everything was positive” on ace RHP Justin Verlander after he had a rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday night. They were waiting to hear from Verlander, but the plan is another rehab start before thinking about coming back to the majors. ... Bregman slid into a wall hard chasing a foul pop, but stayed in.
Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers had the day off. “He’s been grinding through it,” Cora said. “It makes sense and hopefully (Monday) he’ll be back.” ... SS Trevor Story is still expected to take BP on the field Monday as he works back from shoulder surgery quicker than originally expected.
UP NEXT
Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (11-5, 3.46 ERA) is expected to start the opener of a three-game series Monday on the road against Tampa Bay.
Red Sox: Cora said RHP Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.16) would come off the paternity list and make his start Monday when Boston plays the first of three against Texas. RHP Tyler Mahle (0-1, 1.80) is slated to start for the Rangers.
Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.