Morton, Altuve star as Astros sink Mariners

SEATTLE: Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve had a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday after Evan Gattis hit into a bizarre 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth inning.

Morton (3-0) retired 15 straight during one stretch and didn’t allow a runner to reach second base.

Marco Gonzales (1-2) allowed three runs -- all unearned because of a throwing error by third baseman Kyle Seager - and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.

In Anaheim, Mookie Betts hit his second leadoff homer in three games, Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs and Boston Red Sox completed a dominant 8-2 sweep of AL West-leading Los Angeles.

JD Martinez and Rafael Devers also drove in runs during the seventh consecutive victory by the major league-leading Red Sox, who have won 16 of 17 since losing on opening day.

Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0) pitched six innings of three-hit ball as Boston extended the best start in the 118-year-old franchise’s history.

Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts as the Angels’ designated hitter in his first action since taking his first career loss on the mound Tuesday. Although he’s still batting .324, the two-way rookie struggled while moving up to sixth in manager Mike Scioscia’s lineup.