BRAYAN Rocchio lined a go-ahead, two-run double into the left field corner with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, and a quartet of relievers protected the lead as the visiting Cleveland Guardians snapped a 10-game skid with a 7-5 victory over the red-hot Houston Astros on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
After producing sacrifice bunts in his first two plate appearances, Rocchio broke a 4-all tie by drilling an 0-2 slider from Astros reliever Steven Okert over the outstretched glove of Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes. Angel Martinez and Bo Naylor scored to provide the Guardians a 6-4 advantage.
The Astros, who rallied from a four-run deficit with homers by Taylor Trammell and Paredes in the bottom of the fifth, sliced the Guardians’ two-run margin in half when Victor Caratini socked a solo homer to right field with two outs in the sixth off Guardians reliever Matt Festa (2-2).
Festa limited the damage to a lone run. Right-handers Paul Sewald and Hunter Gaddis followed by working a perfect inning of relief each before Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase retired the Astros in order in the ninth for his 19th save. David Fry added an insurance homer in the top of the ninth.
In other games, it was the Brewers 9, Dodgers 1; Blue Jays 8, White Sox 4; Tigers 5, Rays 1; Royals 9, Pirates 3; Red Sox 9, Rockies 3; Marlins 5, Reds 1; Diamondbacks 6, Padres 3; Angels 6, Rangers 5; and Giants 3, Phillies 1.
Brewers 9, Dodgers 1
Andrew Vaughn hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat with his new team and Freddy Peralta tossed six scoreless innings to pace Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Los Angeles in the opener of a three-game series.
Peralta (10-4), the Brewers’ lone All-Star selection, scattered five hits, striking out seven and walking one. Aaron Ashby allowed an RBI single to Esteury Ruiz in the eighth. Christian Yelich added a home run for the Brewers, who have won three of four.
