Verlander throws 2-hitter over eight as Astros blank Mets

NEW YORK » Justin Verlander pitched two-hit ball for eight innings, Jason Castro lined a two-run homer in the ninth and the Houston Astros beat the Mets 2-0 Wednesday to send New York to its first threegame losing streak this season.

Astros left fielder Yordan Álvarez and shortstop Jeremy Peña were hurt when they collided in the eighth while running down Dominic Smith’s popup. Both called for the ball and as Peña caught the pop, and they hit each other in the face with their gloves. Álvarez was removed on a cart, sitting up, and Peña walked back to the dugout during the eight-minute delay.

Verlander (10-3) became the majors’ first 10-game winner, striking out six and walking one.

PIRATES 8, NATIONALS 7 » Bryan

Reynolds hit a career-high three homers and drove in six runs, leading Pittsburgh to the win.

Reynolds hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Paolo Espino, a solo drive in the sixth off Carl Edwards Jr. (2-2) and the game-winning three-run homer in the seventh off Kyle Finnegan.

YANKEES 5, ATHLETICS 3 » Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered to fuel the Yankees’ major league-best 24th comeback victory.

The Yankees completed a threegame sweep of baseball’s worst team and improved to 56-20, matching the 2001 Mariners and 1998 Yankees for baseball’s best 76-game start since 1930. BREWERS 5, RAYS 3 » Rowdy Tellez hit two home runs and Milwaukee center fielder Jonathan Davis made a spectacular catch, sending the Brewers to the win.

Davis robbed Randy Arozarena of an extra-base hit in the second when he made a flying, overthe-shoulder catch while crashing headfirst into the wall. He eventually left with lower back and rib cage discomfort.

ROYALS 2, RANGERS 1 » Zack Greinke pitched six innings of onerun ball in his 500th career start, helping Kansas City avoid a threegame sweep.