Astros keep edge over Sox
The Houston Astros proved last October they can win at Fenway Park.
With another postseason clash possibly coming next month, the Astros are showing they haven’t lost their touch.
Alex Bregman hit his 30th home run, Charlie Morton returned from the disabled list with five solid innings and the Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on Saturday for their seventh straight win.
“We play excellent on the road and I’m proud of our guys for coming into this environment and continuing to play good,” manager AJ Hinch said.
Houston won the first two legs of the three-game rematch of last year’s AL Division Series. The defending World Series champion Astros go for a sweep Sunday night at Fenway, where the major league-leading Red Sox had won their past 10 series at home. Boston has only been swept once this season, in a three-game set against Tampa Bay in late August.
Martin Maldonado also homered for Houston and Morton (14-3) delivered a few hours after being activated from the DL.
Morton, who missed his last start with discomfort in his right shoulder, allowed two runs and seven hits, striking out three and walking two. He allowed a run and three hits in the first inning, but Boston didn’t score again until Xander Bogaerts’ solo homer in the fifth.
The Red Sox were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position after going 1-for-9 in the opener.
“It felt like we had traffic in both games and we haven’t been able to cash in,” manager Alex Cora said. “They made some pitches too — you’ve got to give them credit.”
Eduardo Rodriguez (12-4) pitched 31/3 innings. Houston tagged him for five runs and six hits, including solo homers by Bregman and Maldonado.
Bogaerts, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIS, gave Boston a 1-0 lead in the first on a single after back-to-back singles by Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi.
Maldonado led off the fourth with a homer to left-center, the second in two innings off Rodriguez.