Alvarez, Correa lead Astros, end Boston's 5-game win streak

BOSTON (AP) — Not many teams have had a great deal of luck against the Boston Red Sox rotation this year.

The Houston Astros continue to lead the short list of those that have.

Carlos Correa and Yordan Alvarez homered to back Framber Valdez, and the Astros ended Boston's five-game winning streak, beating the Red Sox 7-1 Tuesday night.

It was the Astros’ fourth win in five games against Boston this season after taking three of four last week in Houston. The Astros have outscored the Red Sox 26-10 overall.

Valdez (2-0) allowed one run and five hits over 7 1/3 innings, striking out eight to pick up his second straight win over Boston. He held the Red Sox to one run in seven innings last week.

“I felt good about the pitches I had the adjustments I made,” Valdez said through an interpreter. “I just tried to pitch with intensity with every one of my pitches.”

Enoli Paredes got the final two outs in the eighth and Josh Taylor pitched a scoreless ninth.

“We chased 38% of the pitches against them last week,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We felt the at-bats were better than last week ... but (Valdez) was good overall.”

Red Sox starters entered the game having gone five or more innings 50 times in 2021, tied for the most in the majors.

But Boston starter Martín Pérez (4-3) lasted just two innings, allowing six runs off six hits. It was his shortest outing in 12 starts and stopped his streak of four consecutive wins.

“I think it was more him than us, but we capitalized on his ineffectiveness today," Astros manager Dusty Baker said.

Relievers Matt Andriese, Brandon Workman and Phillips Valdez combined to allow five hits and one run over the rest of the game.

Pérez was coming off pitching 7 2/3 scoreless innings against Houston...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Alvarez-Correa-lead-Astros-end-Boston-s-5-game-16234630.php