Astros 3, Dodgers 2 (10 innings)
HOUSTON -- Catcher Jason Castro drilled on opposite-field, walk-off home run with one out in the 10th inning to cap the Houston Astros' 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday and complete a three-game interleague series sweep at Minute Maid Park.
Castro lifted a 2-0 pitch from right-hander Chris Hatcher (1-5) into the first row of seats in the Crawford Boxes in left field to give the Astros their first sweep over the Dodgers since May 9-11, 2008, at Dodger Stadium.
Astros closer Luke Gregerson (7-2) earned the win in relief.
Houston won four games on its 10-game homestand via walk-off hits.
The Astros rallied against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the bottom of the ninth, parlaying an opposite-field leadoff single from shortstop Carlos Correa, a stolen base by Correa, and a game-tying single from left fielder Marwin Gonzalez into a spirited comeback. Gonzalez struck out three times against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw before dumping the first pitch he saw from Jensen, a cutter, into right field.
Kershaw dominated early but had to buckle down over his final three innings to preserve his lead, stranding Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis in scoring position with three consecutive strikeouts in the seventh inning before retiring Houston (69-56) in order in the eighth.
The Dodgers (67-56) scraped across a pair of runs off rookie right-hander Lance McCullers, whose issues controlling his curveball proved his undoing. McCullers uncorked three wild pitches, all off his breaking ball, and those errant offerings led directly to both runs he surrendered.
The Dodgers' luck spun both ways in the sixth inning when Correa ricocheted an RBI single off Kershaw to score second baseman Jose Altuve, cutting the deficit to 2-1. But two batters later, with Gattis at the plate and Correa representing the go-ahead run, Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez was thrown out trying to steal home.
Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis applied the tag on Gomez just prior to Gomez touching home plate, clipping Gomez in the jaw a split-second before he was safe. A replay review confirmed the ruling, ending the inning.
Kershaw allowed one run on seven hits and recorded 10 strikeouts over eight innings.
McCullers, making his first start since Aug. 3 following a short stint at Double-A Corpus Christi for rest, allowed eight hits and did not issue a walk while striking out eight over seven innings. But his wild pitch in the first inning pushed second baseman Chase Utley to third base, and Utley later scored on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Justin Turner.
Ellis doubled with one out in the fifth, advanced to third on a McCullers wild pitch and scored two pitches later when McCullers bounced a pitch to shortstop Jimmy Rollins past catcher Castro.
NOTES: Astros OF George Springer is scheduled to participate in a full batting practice on Monday or Tuesday, a significant step on the rehab protocol for his activation from the 15-day disabled list. Springer landed on the DL on July 2 with a right wrist fracture. ... Dodgers manager Don Mattingly acknowledged that IF/OF Kike Hernandez has surpassed CF Joc Pederson on the depth chart. Pederson was considered a National League Rookie of the Year candidate but has slumped badly in the second half with a .163/.333/.293 line with three home runs and seven RBIs. ... Astros 1B prospect A.J. Reed was named the California League MVP after hitting .346 with 23 home runs and 81 RBIs in 82 games before his promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi on July 12. Reed is rated the Astros' sixth-best prospect, according to MLB.com.