Gomez misplays costly in Astros’ loss
MINNEAPOLIS—Tyler Duffey pitched six effective innings and Minnesota took advantage of two misplays by Houston center fielder Carlos Gomez in a threerun fifth to drop the Astros 3-1 Monday night.
Gomez, the former Twins outfielder, let Jorge Polanco’s single skip by him for a two-base error that allowed one run to score. Then he lost a fly ball off Juan Centeno’s bat, turning it into an RBI triple.
Danny Santana followed with a run-scoring single, and Minnesota won for the seventh time in nine games.
Duffey (7-8) permitted one run on four hits and struck out eight. Three relievers combined for three hitless innings, and Brandon Kintzler finished for his 10th save in 11 chances.
Collin McHugh (7-9) gave up three runs and 10 hits in seven innings, losing his third straight start.
Eddie Rosario had three hits for lastplace Minnesota, which is 21-12 since July 2 and leads the majors in runs and hits during that span.
Houston’s playoff push has stalled as the offense has struggled. The Astros have lost 10 of their past 13 games and scored more than three runs just three times during that span.
JAYS 7, RAYS 5
TORONTO—Devon Travis had a career-high four hits, including the go-ahead single in the seventh inning, as Toronto beat Tampa Bay.
Edwin Encarnacion hit his 299th career home run as the Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak against the Rays.
Encarnacion and Jose Bautista both had three RBIs as Toronto scored more than four runs for the first time since a 9-1 win over Baltimore on July 30.
Joaquin Benoit (2-1) worked one inning for the win. Roberto Osuna gave up Logan Forsythe’s solo homer in the ninth but finished for his 25th save.
Xavier Cedeno (3-4) took the loss.