Gurriel homers twice as Astros punch playoff ticket
HOUSTON — Yuli Gurriel hit a grand slam and a two-run home run on his way to a career-high seven RBI, and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth by routing the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Friday night.
George Springer added a threerun shot in the eighth for the Astros, who are still looking to secure the AL West title. The defending World Series champions began the day with a 31/2-game lead over second-place Oakland.
Houston starter Gerrit Cole (15-5) allowed 3 hits and 3 runs in 7 innings in his fifth consecutive victory. He also struck out 12, giving him 1,006 for his career and moving him in front of teammate Justin Verlander (269) for most in the AL this season with 272.
Gurriel hit his third career grand slam in the first inning. He connected for his 12th home run against Andrew Heaney (9-10) in the third and singled in Tyler White in the fifth.
It was his first career multi-home run game. His brother Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also homered twice for Toronto on Friday night, marking the first time in major league history that brothers had multi-home run games on the same day.
Gurriel’s seven RBI were the most for a Houston player since J.R. Towles set a franchise record with eight 11 years ago.
Mike Trout homered for the second consecutive game for the Angels, who lost their third in a row. They have allowed 42 runs combined in those three losses.
Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman hit consecutive singles with one out in the first and Heaney walked Marwin Gonzalez to load the bases. Gurriel then belted an opposite-field shot to right field.
Gonzalez walked again with one out in the third before Gurriel drove an 81-mph curveball into the Crawford Boxes in left field.
Heaney allowed six runs in three innings.
Jose Fernandez doubled with two outs in the sixth before Trout’s 37th home run cut Houston’s lead to 7-2. Andrelton Simmons tripled with one out in the seventh and scored on a single by Francisco Arcia.
On the injury front, shortstop Carlos Correa was out of the lineup and Astros Manager A.J. Hinch said he’ll sit out until at least Monday as he continues to deal with soreness in his lower back.