ASTROS RALLY TO DEFEAT CARDINALS

Bregman and Diaz homer in the 8th to lift the Astros to a win over the Cardinals

Bregman and Diaz homer in the 8th to lift the Astros to a win over the Cardinals
Astros defeat the Cardinals, 7-4. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz homered in the eighth inning, helping the Houston Astros top the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 on Monday night.

Bregman tied it at 4 when he hit a leadoff drive to left off JoJo Romero (2-1). It was Bregman's fifth homer in his last seven games and No. 9 on the season.

With two outs and Jake Meyers aboard, Diaz homered off the wall in left for his fourth on the year. Chas McCormick then reached on an error on shortstop Masyn Winn and swiped second ahead of Jose Altuve's RBI double.

Rafael Montero (1-1) got three outs for the win, and Josh Hader worked the ninth for his ninth save.

Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer, helping the Astros to the win after Kyle Tucker departed in the third inning after fouling a ball off his right shin.

Nolan Gorman homered twice and Alec Burleson also went deep for the Cardinals, who lost for the third time in four games.

There was one out in the first when Burleson sent a slider from Justin Verlander into the seats in right field. Gorman connected with two down.

An RBI single by Nolan Arenado made it 3-0 in the third.

Tucker got hurt in the bottom of the inning and was replaced by pinch-hitter Mauricio Dubón, who drew a walk. Alvarez followed with his 12th homer on a drive to right.

Gorman hit his 13th homer of the season with one out in the fifth to make it 4-2.

Alvarez hit a one-out double in the sixth before the Astros cut the lead to 4-3 on an RBI single by Meyers with two outs.

Verlander allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings.

Kyle Gibson struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings for St. Louis. He was charged with three runs and five hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Manager Oliver Marmol said RHP Keynan Middleton was visiting a specialist Monday in New York after experiencing pain and stiffness in his right forearm. Middleton made five appearances for Double-A Springfield before experiencing the setback.

Astros: General manager Dana Brown said Monday that RHP José Urquidy is getting a second opinion on his injury amid reports that a second Tommy John surgery is possible. ESPN was first to report the right-hander will visit Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, on Monday. ESPN reported Meister is expected to recommend Tommy John surgery. “That’s not the information we have right now,” Brown said. “And so that’s why we’re getting a second opinion. So, we’ll know more in a couple of days.”

UP NEXT

Houston RHP Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, 5.98 ERA) opposes RHP Andre Pallante (1-1, 3.94 ERA) when the series continues Tuesday night.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

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.

Key moment

Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.

Key Stat

Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.

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