Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning as the visiting Houston Astros completed a three-game series sweep by beating the Boston Red Sox 10-2 on Sunday.
Bregman hit a three-run homer that handed the Astros a 4-0 lead before Alvarez followed with a solo shot, his fifth home run in the past five games. Both blasts came off reliever Brennan Bernardino.
The back-to-back home runs were part of a five-run fifth inning that included an RBI single by Jake Meyers that put the Astros in front 6-0.
Houston added four runs in the sixth on a two-run double by Yainer Diaz and a two-run homer from Jeremy Pena. Pena’s homer was the ninth Houston hit in the series and the 47th the Red Sox have allowed in 21 games since the All-Star break.
Houston’s first run came in the third, when Bernardino threw a wild pitch that allowed Mauricio Dubon to score.
Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (10-7) limited Boston to two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked two.
The Red Sox scored on a bases-loaded walk by Wilyer Abreu and an RBI single by Masataka Yoshida. Both runs came in the sixth.
Jose Altuve had three singles for Houston, which extended its winning streak to five games. The Astros beat the Red Sox 8-4 on Friday night and 5-4 on Saturday.
James Paxton started on the mound for Boston but left the game after pitching to three batters (five pitches) with what the Red Sox called a strained right calf. Paxton was injured when he attempted to cover first base on an Alvarez grounder.
Lucas Sims (1-6) replaced Paxton and took the loss. He allowed one run in two innings.
Rafael Devers was not in Boston’s starting lineup on Sunday. It was the first time he hasn’t played in a game since June 9. Nick Sogard got the start at third base in place of Devers.
The Red Sox have lost their past four games.
–Field Level Media
