The Sports Xchange
May 29, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS -- Carlos Beltran had four hits and capped an 11-run eighth inning with a three-run homer as the Houston Astros rallied for a 16-8 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday in a matchup of first-place teams.
Carlos Correa added three hits and three RBIs as Houston recovered from a six-run deficit with their first 11-run inning since 1994. The Astros scored a season high in runs and knocked a season-high 18 hits.
Jose Altuve and Marwin Gonzalez also had three hits apiece, and Alex Bregman added a two-run homer for Houston, which has won seven of its past eight games and leads the majors with 36 victories and 16 road wins.
Jordan Jankowski (1-0) picked up his first major league win in his second career appearance. Jankowski allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings in relief of starter Brad Peacock.
Craig Breslow (1-1) gave up three runs in 1/3 of an inning. He surrendered three hits after relieving Ryan Pressly, who started the eighth inning against Houston and allowed five runs, three hits and a walk in 1/3 of an inning. Matt Belisle also gave up three runs in 1/3 of an inning for Minnesota.
With Twins ace Ervin Santana on the mound, the Astros were facing an 8-2 deficit after Minnesota scored seven runs in the fifth. But once Santana departed, Houston took advantage of a beleaguered bullpen, which was drained after Sunday's 15-inning loss.
Pressly was pitching for the fourth time in six days. Breslow and Belisle were used for the third time in four days. The 13 runs allowed by the bullpen on Monday is a Twins record.
Santana gave Minnesota a much-needed seven innings. He allowed two runs (one earned), five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Miguel Sano's two-run homer finished the scoring in the Twins' seven-run fifth. Former Astro Robbie Grossman added a solo homer in the seventh and finished with two RBIs.
Peacock retired the first 11 batters and had given up just one hit before the fifth. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs and four hits. He struck out eight batters for the second straight outing and walked one.
NOTES: Minnesota CF Byron Buxton left the game after he sustained a laceration on his right ring finger. Buxton dived for a ball in the top of the sixth inning and appeared to hit his hand on LF Eddie Rosario, who caught the ball. Ehire Adrianza pinch-hit for Buxton in the bottom of the inning. Adrianza took over in left field with Rosario sliding to center. It's the first time in Adrianza's five-year career he had played outfield. ... The Twins recalled RHP Drew Rucinski and selected the contract of LHP Jason Wheeler from Triple-A Rochester before the game. Minnesota needed more pitching after Sunday's 15-inning game and had placed RHP Justin Haley on the disabled list with right shoulder soreness and optioned DH Kennys Vargas to Triple-A after the game. Rucinski made one appearance for the Twins earlier this season, giving up two runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings. Wheeler is in the majors for the first time since being an eighth-round draft choice in 2011. ... Houston RHP Jandel Gustave (right forearm tightness) has started a throwing program in Florida. He has been on the DL since April 19.