Bregman homers in 3rd straight game, Astros beat Twins 4-1

Published 6:07 pm Monday, September 3, 2018

HOUSTON — Alex Bregman homered for the third straight game and Yuli Gurriel also went deep to help the Houston Astros to their third straight win, 4-1 over the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

Dallas Keuchel (11-10) scattered five hits over six innings and allowed one run, which was unearned, for his second straight win. Brad Peacock allowed a single with two outs in the ninth to load the bases but struck out Jorge Polanco to escape the jam and get his third save.

Minnesota’s Kyle Gibson (7-12) yielded four hits and four runs — two earned — with five strikeouts in seven innings for his third straight loss.

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There were two outs in the first inning when Bregman knocked his 28th home into the seats in left field to give Houston a 1-0 lead. Bregman has reached base safely in 31 straight games, which is the longest active streak in the majors. He has 13 hits, including four homers and three doubles, with 10 RBIs in his last eight games combined.

Tyler White singled to start Houston’s second before Gurriel reached on an error by Polanco. Brian McCann followed with a single that scored White to push the lead to 2-0.

Evan Gattis then grounded into a double play that allowed Gurriel to score and make it 3-0.

Gurriel made it 4-0 in the fourth inning when he connected off Gibson on a solo shot with one out.

Keuchel had retired seven straight when Mitch Garver singled with one out in the sixth. An error by Carlos Correa, when he overthrew first base, allowed Robbie Grossman to reach before the Twins cut the lead to 4-1 on an RBI single by Miguel Sano. But Keuchel struck out Jake Cave and Tyler Austin to end the inning and leave the runners stranded.

Gibson settled down after the homer to Gurriel and retired the last 11 batters he faced before Matt Magill took over for the eighth inning.

Up next

Justin Verlander (13-9, 2.78 ERA) will start for Houston when the series continues on Tuesday night. Verlander ranks second in the American League behind teammate Gerrit Cole with 240 strikeouts this season. The Twins have yet to announce who will start for them on Tuesday.