Bregman, Houston remain really hot
Astros top Kansas City for 10th consecutive win
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A.J. Hinch wiped the sweat from his brow after watching his Astros win their 10th straight game on Saturday, joking that he might get tossed early the next time out to avoid the Kansas City heat.
The skipper hasn’t been sweating many outcomes lately.
Houston’s latest solid start came from Dallas Keuchel, who allowed the Royals two unearned runs over six sharp innings. Its latest offense came from Max Stassi and Albuquerque native Alex Bregman, who belted three-run homers at spacious Kauffman Stadium. And its latest win was a 10-2 rout as the heat index eclipsed 100 degrees.
“I’m really happy with how consistently the guys are showing up expecting to win, and then going out and doing it,” Hinch said. “We’re a hard team to beat right now.”
No matter the situation. No matter the conditions.
“Winning streak, no winning streak, it doesn’t matter. We just play our game,” said Bregman, who survived the blazing sun and oppressive heat that sent Stassi and Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel to the clubhouse with symptoms of dehydration.
The Astros have won the first nine games on their 10-game road swing, already making it the best trip in club history with the series finale still to come today. Meanwhile, the Royals have lost five straight.
Bregman added his homer in the ninth inning to extend his career-best on-base streak to 27 consecutive games.
DODGERS 3, GIANTS 1: In Los Angeles, Enrique Hernandez and Matt Kemp each homered for the second consecutive game, Alex Wood got his first victory since May 20 and Los Angeles won its fifth straight. RANGERS 5, ROCKIES 2: In Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the eighth inning and Texas stopped a seven-game slide.
MARLINS 5, ORIOLES 4: In Baltimore, Miami’s J.T. Realmuto homered twice and had four RBIs off Alex Cobb, and the Orioles tied a club record with their 11th consecutive home loss and fell to a major league-worst 19-50 overall.
TWINS 9, INDIANS 3: In Cleveland, Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco was pulled after he was struck on the right arm by a line drive, and Minnesota got
four hits from Eddie Rosario in the win.
YANKEES 4, RAYS 1: In New York, Luis Severino pitched eight sharp innings and also jumped to steal away a popup from catcher Gary Sanchez, leading the Yankees to their 13th win in 16 games.
Giancarlo Stanton and Sanchez hit back-to-back home runs for New York. It was the Rays’ 18th loss in 22 games at Yankee Stadium. BLUE JAYS 2, NATIONALS 0: In Toronto, Max Scherzer lost his second straight start for the first time since 2015 when Marco Estrada pitched 6⅔ shutout innings and Devon Travis homered for the Blue Jays. TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 5: In Chicago, Nicholas Castellanos homered twice and Jose Iglesias hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Detroit’s two-run eighth, helping the Tigers gain their fourth straight win.
PIRATES 6, REDS 2: In Pittsburgh, Josh Harrison hit a two-run homer, Colin Moran and Elias Diaz added solo shots and the Pirates pulled away. Ivan Nova (4-5) worked through heavy traffic in six innings to pick up his second victory in as many starts since returning from the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right ring finger.
A’s 6, ANGELS 4: In Oakland, Calif., Stephen Piscotty hit a tiebreaking, tworun single with two outs in the sixth inning, and Oakland held on.
BRAVES 1, PADRES 0: In Atlanta, Sean Newcomb pitched six scoreless innings, Charlie Culberson homered, and the NL East-leading Braves improved to 25-7 when their starter pitches at least six innings. PHILLIES 4, BREWERS 1: In Milwaukee, Rhys Hoskins and Andrew Knapp hit home runs and Philadelphia overcame stranding 15 runners on base.
MARINERS 1, RED SOX 0: In Seattle, Wade LeBlanc worked into the eighth inning despite throwing a fastball that doesn’t reach 90 mph, and Nelson Cruz had an RBI single for the Mariners. LeBlanc gave up just two hits and struck out nine over 7⅔ innings. CUBS 6, CARDINALS 3: In St. Louis, Addison Russell and Jason Heyward homered and Ian Happ’s double broke a 3-all tie as Chicago rallied to beat St. Louis. Brandon Morrow got the last three outs for his 16th save in 17 chances. METS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1: In Phoenix, Michael Conforto homered and drove in four runs, Steven Matz pitched effectively into the seventh inning and New York beat Arizona.