Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and stole a base, Yordan Alvarez hit his 23rd home run and Framber Valdez had a gem as the Houston Astros beat the New York Mets 9-1 on Tuesday night.
Alvarez reached base five times, Yuli Gurriel homered and Alex Bregman had three hits for Houston, which beat the Mets for the third time in a week.
The NL West leaders swept their two-game series at home and began a nine-game stretch against the Mets and Yankees. Houston is 5-2 in this shootout to date.
Valdez (8-3) allowed six hits in eight scoreless innings, struck out four and had several groundouts. The lefty accumulated before the game the highest rate of ground balls in the majors of 68.9%.
Carlos Carrasco (8-4) had a difficult performance for the second time in a row against Houston. He gave up six runs on six hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.
For the Mets, the Venezuelans Ender Inciarte 2-0; Eduardo Escobar 3-0 and Luis Guillorme 1-1. The Dominican Starling Marte 4-3. Puerto Ricans Francisco Lindor 2-0 and Tomás Nido 0-0.
For the Astros, the Venezuelan José Altuve 2-0. Cubans Aledmys Díaz 2-0; Yordan Álvarez 3-3, two runs scored, two RBIs, and Yuli Gurriel 4-2, one runs scored, two RBIs. The Dominican Jeremy Peña 5-1, two runs scored. Honduran Mauricio Dubón 1-0. Puerto Rican Martin Maldonado 4-0.
