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03/30 21:56 CDT McCullers shines with 7 strong innings and Altuve's 2 homers
power Astros past Red Sox 8-1
McCullers shines with 7 strong innings and Altuve's 2 homers power Astros past
Red Sox 8-1
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- Lance McCullers Jr. pitched seven innings for the first time
since 2022 and Jose Altuve hit two of Houston's four home runs to help the
Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 8-1 on Monday night.
McCullers (1-0), who missed the 2023 and '24 seasons with injuries, allowed
four hits and a run with nine strikeouts in his season debut. The home crowd
gave the longtime Astro a nice ovation as he left the mound after his best
start in years.
Altuve, who tied a career high with four hits, had solo shots in the seventh
and eighth innings for his 15th career multi-homer game. Yordan Alvarez had a
two-run home run and Brice Matthews also homered as Houston won a third
straight game after dropping its first two.
The Astros led by one when Altuve singled to open Houston's third before
Alvarez sent his soaring shot into the second deck in right field to push the
lead to 3-0.
Boston starter Ranger Surez had retired six in a row when Matthews homered to
left-center field to start the fifth and leave the Astros up 4-0.
Wilyer Abreu had two hits and drove in a run for the Red Sox, who have dropped
three in a row since winning their opener.
Surez (0-1) permitted seven hits and four runs with three strikeouts in 4 1/3
innings.
The Astros added a run on a sacrifice fly by Yainer Diaz to make it 5-0 in the
sixth.
McCullers retired the first seven batters before Carlos Narvez singled with
one out in the third. But Ceddanne Rafaela grounded into a double play to end
the inning.
McCullers struck out the side in the fourth and fanned Willson Contreras to
open the fifth. Abreu singled after that, but Caleb Durbin grounded into a
double play to end the inning.
There were runners at first and third with two outs in the seventh when Abreu
hit a ground-rule double to make it 5-1.
Up next Boston RHP Brayan Bello makes his season debut against Houston RHP Hunter Brown, who pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings on opening day, when the series continues Tuesday night. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Up next Boston RHP Brayan Bello makes his season debut against Houston RHP Hunter Brown, who pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings on opening day, when the series continues Tuesday night. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
