ASTROS 5, ANGELS 2
HOUSTON -- Justin Verlander, Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros did enough to deny the Los Angeles Angels a three-game sweep.
Verlander pitched seven sharp innings, Altuve hit his first home run of the season and the Astros won 5-2 Wednesday, ending the Angels' road winning streak at a team record-tying 11 in a row.
"We are tough to sweep because of our pitching matchups and our rotation," Verlander said. "The old adage, 'You're only as good as the next day's starting pitcher' -- I think we like our chances every day."
"It was a tough-fought series. You can't expect to win every series, especially against a team like that because they're very talented," he said.
Albert Pujols connected off Verlander for his 619th career home run. Pujols now has 2,994 hits.
Verlander said he was "letting it fly" and "got a little erratic" in the seventh when he allowed two runs. But he said his body felt the best it had all season and his fastball command was the best it has been so far.
Verlander (4-0) held the Angels hitless into the fifth inning before Zack Cozart singled with two outs. Verlander gave up 2 runs and 4 hits, striking out 9 without a walk.
Verlander won his 11th regular-season decision in a row, dating to mid-August last year, before the Detroit traded him to Houston.
"I feel like I say this every time he pitches, but what a great job of dominating and controlling the game he did," Astros Manager A.J. Hinch said. "Even in the inning where he wobbled a little bit, it never gets away from him."
Alex Bregman hit a three-run double and Jake Marisnick homered for Houston. The Angels had also won 11 consecutive road games in 1988.
Ken Giles pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Nick Tropeano (1-2) retired the first 11 batters he faced, striking out six.
MARINERS 4, WHITE SOX 3 Mike Zunino homered and scored twice to back Felix Hernandez in Seattle's victory over host Chicago.
YANKEES 7, TWINS 4 Didi Gregorius homered for the fourth consecutive game and added two RBI to his major league-leading total, sending host New York past Minnesota for its fifth consecutive victory.
RAYS 8, ORIOLES 4 Joey Wendle had three hits and two RBI, Adeiny Hechavarria homered and visiting Tampa Bay beat former teammate Alex Cobb and Baltimore.
RED SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 3 Mookie Betts homered twice and drove in three runs as Boston snapped their season-high three-game losing streak with a victory over host Toronto.
RANGERS 4, ATHLETICS 2 Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a go-ahead single in the fifth inning and the Texas bullpen protected the lead, giving the Rangers a 4-2 victory over visiting Oakland.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ROCKIES 5, PADRES 2 Jon Gray struck out 11 in six dominant innings and David Dahl lined a two-run triple, lifting host Colorado to a victory over San Diego.
NATIONALS 15, GIANTS 2 Trea Turner got five hits, Matt Adams homered and drove in six runs, and visiting Washington routed San Francisco to end a four-game losing streak.
BRAVES 5, REDS 4 Prized prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. singled and scored the tying run in the eighth inning of his big league debut, and Atlanta went on to beat host Cincinnati.
PHILLIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 3 Aaron Altherr hit a go-ahead three-run home run, Jake Arrieta outpitched Zack Greinke and Philadelphia beat visiting Arizona.
MARLINS 8, DODGERS 6 Trevor Richards outpitched Clayton Kershaw just months removed from working as a substitute elementary school teacher, and Miami took advantage of a wild outing from Los Angeles' ace to beat the host Dodgers.
CARDINALS 9, METS 1 Marcell Ozuna hit a tiebreaking two-run single and Michael Wacha won his fourth consecutive start as St. Louis beat visiting New York.
INTERLEAGUE
TIGERS 13-3, PIRATES 10-8 Nicholas Castellanos had four hits and a key home run, and Detroit used 20 hits to outslug host Pittsburgh in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game, Jose Osuna, called up from the minors, hit a three-run home run to lift the Pirates to a victory.
INDIANS 4, CUBS 1 Francisco Lindor and Edwin Encarnacion hit sixth-inning home runs and Cleveland beat visiting Chicago despite losing relief ace Andrew Miller to a left hamstring injury.
BREWERS 6, ROYALS 2 Jhoulys Chacin efficiently mowed through the lineup of host Kansas City, Milwaukee manufactured four runs in the fourth inning and the Brewers went on to beat the Royals for their eighth consecutive victory.
Sports on 04/26/2018