Astros beat Verlander, Mets to snap five-game losing streak
HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer and Framber Valdez threw eight robust innings to outpitch former teammate Justin Verlander because the Houston Astros snapped a five-game skid with a 4-2 win over the New York Mets on Tuesday night time.
Valdez (7-5) took over as Houston’s ace this 12 months following Verlander’s departure after profitable the AL Cy Young Award final season. The left-hander didn’t permit a baserunner till the sixth and held the Mets scoreless till the eighth.
The Astros led by one within the third earlier than Bregman related off Verlander (2-4) for the a hundred and fiftieth dwelling run of his profession to make it 3-0.
Valdez yielded 4 hits and two runs with 9 strikeouts to go away his ERA at 2.27, which ranks second within the majors. Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless ninth for his thirteenth save.
Verlander, who helped Houston to 2 World Series titles, allowed eight hits and 4 runs in seven innings in his first assembly towards his former workforce.
Jose Altuve drove in two runs to assist the Astros finish their longest shedding streak of the season and bounce again after an 11-1 walloping within the sequence opener.
The Mets had only one hit on a single by Mark Canha within the sixth when Tommy Pham singled to proper subject to start out the eighth. Francisco Alvarez then doubled on a ball that rolled to the warning monitor.
Corey Julks raced to make a nifty catch in left subject on a ball hit by Jeff McNeil earlier than a sacrifice fly by Canha scored Pham to chop the result in 4-1. Eduardo Escobar singled to ship one other run dwelling earlier than Valdez retired Brandon Nimmo for the third out.
Julks doubled to start out Houston’s third earlier than a one-out single by Martin Maldonado. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when Julks scored on a sacrifice fly by Altuve.
Bregman then launched his tenth homer of the season into the seats in left subject to make it 3-0.
Julks hit an infield single with no outs within the seventh and moved to second on a groundout by Maldonado for the second out. The Astros pushed the result in 4-0 when Altuve singled on a grounder to heart subject.
Valdez was excellent till Canha singled on a liner to shallow proper subject with one out within the sixth. Valdez nonetheless confronted the minimal in that inning after Escobar grounded right into a double play.
Valdez walked Francisco Lindor with two outs within the seventh earlier than shortstop Jeremy Pena made a pleasant play on a grounder hit by Pete Alonso to finish the inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Jose Urquidy (proper shoulder irritation) is ready to throw his second bullpen Wednesday. Urquidy, who hasn’t pitched since April 30, threw off the mound Sunday for the primary time since his damage.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP Cristian Javier (7-1, 2.90 ERA) opposes RHP Tylor Megill (6-4, 4.83) when the three-game sequence wraps up Wednesday.
