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 McHugh carried a shutout into the eighth inning and rode a jolting
display of power in the Houston Astros' 8-0 victory over the
Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Coming off a stellar month in which he posted a 1.89 ERA over five
quality starts, McHugh (15-7) scattered seven hits and one walk over
7 2/3 innings while recording six strikeouts. He allowed consecutive
runners in the first and third innings before utilizing his defense
to escape the first jam and his own savvy pitching to snuff the
second rally.
Left fielder Colby Rasmus and catcher Hank Conger provided the thump
for the Astros (74-61) with timely homers off Pelfrey (6-9), who
entered sporting the longest string of starts without allowing a
home run (seven) in the American League. Conger went 2-for-4 and
matched his career high of five RBIs while Houston welcomed back
right fielder George Springer (1-for-4) from a prolonged stint on
the disabled list.
"We've had a lot of guys contribute with the homer this year and I
think it's a big reason why we are where we are," Astros manager
A.J. Hinch said. "We've gotten production from every slot in the
order."
The Twins (69-65) dropped consecutive games for the first time since
suffering a three-game sweep to the New York Yankees on Aug. 17-19.
"McHugh was good," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We watched him
a lot. He showed us the same thing. He had a lot of poise. We
couldn't touch his curveball all night. He had good command of his
cutter. It was kind of bleak overall."
Springer made an immediate impact in his first game since July 1,
slapping an opposite-field single to right field leading off the
first inning before scampering to third base when second baseman
Jose Altuve followed with a hit-and-run single to right. Springer
scored the first run when shortstop Carlos Correa reached on a
fielder's choice.
That burst followed a dazzling defensive play by Astros center
fielder Carlos Gomez, who fielded a Miguel Sano single and gunned
down Twins first baseman Joe Mauer at the plate to close the first
inning.
"It's huge," McHugh said. "Honestly when you get a play like that
early in the game and we come back and score that inning, momentum
kind of swings your way."
The Astros surged ahead 3-0 in the second inning via a two-run homer
from Rasmus, his 18th, before breaking the game open in the fourth.
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Pelfrey was on the brink of escape after loading the bases with
three successive singles to open the frame. He recovered to strike
out both Rasmus and first baseman Luis Valbuena before falling
behind in the count 2-0 to Conger, who crushed the third pitch out
to left field for a grand slam and his 10th home run this season.
Conger became the 10th Houston player to reach double-digit home
runs, helping the Astros set a franchise record. Pelfrey did not
return for the fifth, leaving saddled with a 7-0 deficit having
allowed eight hits.
"Usually I do a better job of keeping the ball in the park," Pelfrey
said. "The one to Rasmus was belt high that he turned on. The one to
Conger was up, and he was able to get it out, too. Usually, I do a
better job of keeping the ball in the park, and I was unable to do
that tonight."
NOTES: The Astros activated RF George Springer from the 15-day
disabled list, with manager A.J. Hinch inserting Springer into the
lineup atop the batting order. Springer missed 53 games after
suffering a right wrist fracture on July 1, and the Astros went
26-27 without him. He made five rehab appearances for Double-A
Corpus Christi, going 5-for-18 with four runs scored, two walks, a
double and a stolen base. ... Twins CF Aaron Hicks was reinstated
from the 15-day disabled list after missing 13 games with a left
hamstring strain. Hicks appeared in four games with Triple-A
Rochester, batting .412 with two doubles and one home run. ... The
Astros recalled RHP Michael Feliz from Double-A Corpus Christi.
Feliz was 7-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 23 games combined with the Hooks
and Class A Lancaster. ... The Twins recalled LHP Logan Darnell from
Triple-A Rochester, where he went 5-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 35 games
(seven starts) with the Red Wings.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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