Astros 8, Twins 5
HOUSTON -- Third baseman Jed Lowrie belted a two-out grand slam in the seventh inning and the Houston Astros ruined the homecoming of Minnesota Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey, taking the rubber match of this three-game series with the Twins 8-5 Sunday at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros (75-62) rallied for five runs in the seventh, chasing Duffey with a pair of singles before laying waste to Twins reliever Trevor May.
With Minnesota leading 2-0, Astros pinch-hitter Preston Tucker worked a two-out walk to load the bases in the seventh inning before second baseman Jose Altuve reached on an infield single to cut the deficit to 2-1. Lowrie followed with his eighth homer, launching a 2-1 changeup out to right field for the Astros' second grand slam this series.
The stunning comeback made a winner out of Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel (17-6), who allowed three solo home runs yet recorded 12 strikeouts over eight innings. Keuchel allowed five hits and two walks and set a franchise mark with his 14th consecutive home win.
Duffey pitched locally at Bellaire High and Rice University and excelled in his professional debut in his hometown. He matched his season high of eight strikeouts and allowed six hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings. He departed with a shutout to an ovation from his supporters.
Minnesota spotted Duffey a 2-0 lead with second baseman Brian Dozier belting his 27th homer leading off the fourth and shortstop Eduardo Escobar adding his ninth with one out in the fifth. Left fielder Aaron Hicks opened the eighth with his ninth homer, but by then Keuchel had a lead, and he later notched strikeouts of Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano to keep it.
Astros left fielder Jake Marisnick, who entered as a pinch runner and scored in the seventh, added a three-run home run off Twins left-hander Neal Cotts in the eighth for his eighth home run on the season.
The Twins (70-66) fell 4 1/2 games behind Houston in the postseason chase.
NOTES: Astros RHP Scott Feldman did not respond well to a throwing session Saturday, prompting team officials to schedule a meeting to discuss the next course of action. Feldman had an injection in his right shoulder on Wednesday after leaving his start Tuesday night in the third inning with shoulder discomfort. There is an increasingly likelihood that Feldman could miss more than one turn through the rotation. ... With the Astros starting LHP Dallas Keuchel, Twins manager Paul Molitor inserted struggling veteran (and right-handed hitting) RF Torii Hunter back into the lineup. Molitor started dynamic young outfielders Byron Buxton, Aaron Hicks and left-handed hitting Eddie Rosario to positive results Saturday night. ... Astros RF George Springer was held out of the starting lineup, a precaution following his two-month stint on the disabled list with a right wrist fracture. Springer is scheduled to start all three games in Oakland starting Monday and, with the Astros having an off-day on Thursday, should be restriction-free moving forward.