Astros return home and sweep Mets
The Houston Astros hoped their return to Minute Maid Park would provide a boost for a city devastated by flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
George Springer made sure that the fans got a good show in the Astros’ first game since the storm ravaged the area, hitting his career- best 30th homer to lead Houston over the New York Mets and Matt Harvey 12- 8 in the first game of a day- night doubleheader Saturday. The Astros won the nightcap 4- 1.
“The fact that they came out today to support us, it’s crazy,” Springer said. “There’s thousands of people that don’t have homes, they don’t have belongings and they’re rallying around us. It’s our job as the sports team here to do anything we can. The goal is to provide anybody with some sense of relief.”
A crowd of 30,319 attended Game 1. The Astros wore patches on the upper left side of their jerseys with the team logo and the word “STRONG” in block letters as a tribute to those affected by the storm.
Nationals 3, Brewers 2
Trea Turner’s double to the center- field wall scored Wilmer Difo from first base in the eighth inning to rally the visiting Nationals. The Brewers fell 4 ½ games behind the Cubs, the farthest Milwaukee has been out of first place all season. Nationals starter Max Scherzer, who was hit on the left calf by a line drive in the first inning, was lifted after throwing 75 pitches over five innings.
Twins 17, Royals 0
Joe Mauer went 4- for- 4 with two RBI, Eduardo Escobar hit two home runs while driving in six runs and Byron Buxton went 3- for- 5 with three runs to help the host Twins improve to 21- 10 since Aug. 2. The Royals have been shut out 15 times this season, including five in the last nine games.
Marlins 10, Phillies 9
Giancarlo Stanton snapped a 1- for- 17 slump by hitting his 52nd homer, a 445- foot drive against Aaron Nola in the first inning for the host Marlins.