Altuve, Astros avoid three-game sweep

Jose Altuve homered, the Houston bullpen pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, and the Astros beat the Texas Rangers, 5-1, on Thursday in the last game before they return to their floodravaged home city.

Josh Reddick added an RBI single for the AL Westleading Astros, who avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of their instate rivals in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the series was relocated because of Hurricane Harvey.

Houston will have a previously unscheduled day off today and play a doubleheader Saturday against the Mets at Minute Maid Park. The downtown Houston stadium escaped major flood damage. Astros president Reid Ryan has said he hopes the weekend games “can serve as a welcome distraction” for the city. TWINS 5, WHITE SOX 4 » Max Kepler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and Minnesota rallied to beat Chicago. Trailing, 4-3, entering their final at-bat at Target Field, the Twins came back to win their fourth straight and maintain a slim lead for the second AL wild-card spot. BREWERS 6, NATIONALS 3 » Zach Davies won his 16th game to tie Arizona’s Zack Greinke for the most victories in the majors, Jonathan Villar homered, and Milwaukee beat Washington. Davies (16-7) scattered six hits, walked two, struck out four and lowered his ERA to 1.77 over the last nine starts, five of them victories for himself and the team. CUBS 6, BRAVES 2 » Kyle Hendricks (6- 4) turned in his fourth straight quality start and Chicago ran its winning streak to four.