ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a home run in his third consecutive game and drove in four as the Minnesota Twins scored 10 times over the first four innings to extend their winning streak to six with a 16-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.

Max Kepler and Ryan Jeffers also hit home runs and Edouard Julien had three hits and three RBIs as the Twins improved to 7-1 following a five-game losing streak that included a three-game sweep by the Baltimore Orioles.

Twins starter Chris Paddack (2-1) wobbled a bit by giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk but went five innings.

The Twins have at least 10 hits in every game of the winning streak and had six different players drive in runs over the first three innings on Saturday.

“It just meant that we did a good job being relentless in the way we approached the at-bats,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “To have that kind of production (three runs) in four different innings, honestly, what more can you ask for? There were no breaks. We didn’t make it easy on them.”

Joe Adell hit a home run and drove in three runs for the Angels, who lost for the eighth time in their past nine games. Los Angeles starter Jose Soriano (0-4) gave up four runs with three walks over a season-low 1 2/3 innings. He has walked 11 batters over his last three starts.

Outfielder Aaron Hicks pitched the ninth inning for the Angels, giving up Jeffers’ two-run homer.

“You just go home and get yourself some rest but the first thing you do is look yourself in the mirror,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “If you feel like you did everything you can do, then you go home and get some rest. It happens. I’m just hoping for the time we can do that.”

The Twins loaded the bases three batters into the game but scored just once on Kepler’s walk. Alex Kirilloff, Julien and Trevor Larnach each drove in runs in the second inning for a 4-0 lead.

Santana had an RBI double in a three-run third inning and hit a three-run homer in the fourth for a 10-4 lead.

“I’ve been preparing and I feel good, my body feels good,” said the 38-year-old Santana, who is in his 15th season. “I have to continue to help when the team needs me and I have to help with defense or hitting. We’re in a great spot. We won six games straight but tomorrow is a new day.”

Adell’s third home run of the season, a two-run shot, came in the second inning. He added an RBI single in the third.

Kepler hit a home run in the sixth inning and Julien had a two-run double off the top of the wall in left-center during a three-run seventh.

A two-run double for the Twins’ Kyle Farmer in the third inning snapped an 0-for-17 run. Farmer reached base four times on two hits and two walks.

“He’s another guy that has been working hard and it’s coming to him,” Baldelli said. “The times this year when he has had good at-bats and did exactly what he wanted to do, it hasn’t worked out. But today it sure did.”

The Twins won a road series over the Angels for the first time since a three-game sweep in 2019.

TRAINERS ROOM

Twins: RHP Jhoan Duran (oblique) had two strikeouts over two innings during a rehab appearance for Triple-A St. Paul, throwing five of his 15 pitches at 100 mph or more.

Angels: 3B Miguel Sanó was out of the lineup against his former team with left knee soreness.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Pablo Lopez (1-2, 4.39 ERA) will look to improve on a 5.49 ERA over his last four starts on Sunday.

Angels: LHP Reid Detmers (3-1, 2.12 ERA) is out to rebound from his worst start of the season when he gave up four runs Monday to the Orioles.

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SEATTLE (AP) — George Kirby struck out a career-high 12 batters in seven scoreless innings, Ty France hit a two-run homer and the Seattle Mariners beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Saturday night.

Kirby (3-2) gave up two hits, recorded eight of his first nine outs via strikeout and retired his final 14 batters. He ran into his only bit of trouble in the third, giving up a one-out double to Blaze Alexander and a walk to Jake McCarthy before striking out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ketel Marte.

Kirby hit 99.3 mph with his fastball and induced 23 swings and misses.

“Wow, George Kirby,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Tough to get a hit tonight on both sides, but our guy was fantastic. Can’t say enough from where he came out in the first inning, probably as good a stuff as we’ve seen him have all year.”

Kirby extended his scoreless streak to 14 innings.

“You kind of know from the beginning,” he said. “You start warming up and you’re like, OK, it’s going to be a good day. Feel good, and just got to execute. I did my job today.”

The AL West-leading Mariners have won three straight and nine of 11, and have won four consecutive series.

Seattle’s starting pitchers have allowed two or fewer earned runs in 15 consecutive starts, a franchise record.

Arizona starter Slade Cecconi (1-1) kept pace with Kirby early, striking out seven and allowing one hit over the first four innings. He gave up a run in the fifth on Luke Raley’s RBI single.

Cecconi struck out eight while allowing three hits over six innings.

Reliever Bryce Jarvis walked Jorge Polanco in the seventh before France took him deep with a 410-foot shot to right-center.

“Our pitching staff is elite, one of the best in the game,” France said. “Honestly all it takes some nights is just one run.”

McCarthy had an RBI triple in the eighth for the Diamondbacks, who have lost four of five.

“It’s pretty frustrating,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We knew full well it was going to be hard when we came in here. This is a quality pitching staff and we’ve just got to be better. We’ve got to find a way to get it done, it’s not going to fix itself.”

Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen (right hamstring tightness) felt better on Saturday after leaving in the top of the sixth inning Friday. Gallen is expected to throw a bullpen on Monday and make his next scheduled start. … RHP Paul Sewald (oblique) will have his rehab slowed down due to soreness but is still “very close” to a return, Lovullo said.

Mariners: RHP Matt Brash (elbow) has been shut down indefinitely. Brash threw Friday and did not feel good afterward. His scheduled rehab appearance on Saturday at Triple-A Tacoma was scrapped. … RHP Bryan Woo (elbow) allowed two hits and struck out six batters in 3 1/3 innings in his second rehab start at Tacoma.

UP NEXT

Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert (2-0, 1.87 ERA) will pitch Sunday against Diamondbacks righty Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 4.97).

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes hit back-to-back homers in the 10th inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates outlast the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Saturday night.

Reynolds led off with a two-run homer for a 3-1 lead, and Hayes followed with another shot to left off reliever Taylor Rogers (0-1). Jorge Soler answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, but David Bednar wrapped it up for his fifth save. It was a good time for the Pirates to hit their first back-to-back home runs of the season.

“Slow game yesterday, (it was) slow the first part of the game today — so breaking out in the 10th, it felt good,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds, who was drafted by the Giants in 2016 before being traded to Pittsburgh two years later, let out a bit of emotion after the go-ahead shot.

“I think that’s probably as much (emotion) as you’ll see,” manager Derek Shelton said. “You don’t see very much from him.”

Shelton called Rogers “probably one of the better left-handers in the game,” as the Pirates answered after being shut out on Friday.

“Bryan got a breaking ball and hit it good, and then (Hayes) flushed it,” Shelton said. “It was good to see two big hits by guys we need big hits from.”

Hunter Stratton (1-0) got the final two outs in the ninth for his first major league victory.

Giants starter Jordan Hicks struck out nine and allowed a run in six-plus innings, and Pirates starter Martín Pérez also gave up a run in six innings.

The game was scoreless until the sixth, when Wilmer Flores hit an RBI double for the Giants, but the Pirates tied it back up in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Rowdy Tellez.

At 14-14, The Pirates are back at .500 after dipping below the mark Friday for the first time all season. The Giants were seeking to get back to .500 for the first time this month.

Both teams dropped one of their biggest bats down in the batting order — Soler for the Giants and Tellez for the Pirates, both of whom responded by driving in runs.

Soler, who has hit in the middle of the order all season as the Giants’ designated hitter, dropped down to sixth on Saturday. Soler, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract with San Francisco, entered the game 2 for 23 with runners in scoring position so far this season with six RBIs.

Manager Bob Melvin said before the game that Soler could benefit from a change of scenery.

“We’re not quite a month yet, but he’s used to having a few more RBIs at this point in time,” Melvin said. “He’s come up in some situations but you know what? Typically guys like him — when they break out, they break out big.”

Tellez, the Pirates’ usual cleanup hitter, batted eighth Saturday. He was carrying an 0-for-12 streak and hitting just .181 this season entering Saturday.

Pirates catcher Joey Bart, who is back in San Francisco for the first time since the Giants traded their former top prospect to Pittsburgh, started and hit sixth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: RHP Alex Cobb (hip/elbow/shoulder), who continues to have soreness in his right shoulder, underwent an MRI that did not show any structural damage. He also had a cortisone shot, which Melvin hopes clears him up to begin throwing again next week. … Second baseman Thairo Estrada (left hamstring) was back in the lineup after missing Friday’s game.

Pirates: Shortstop Oneil Cruz (ankle) was not in the lineup, with Shelton noting he was “grinding a little bit with his ankle” after hurting it while sliding into third on Friday, but he did pinch hit in the ninth.

UP NEXT

RHP Keaton Winn (2-3, 3.54 ERA) was set to pitch for the Giants against RHP Jared Jones (2-2, 2.79 ERA) in the final game of the three-game series.

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ranger Suárez’s scoreless streak ended at 32 innings but he was otherwise brilliant through eight innings and Alec Bohm homered and drove in four runs for the Philadelphia Phillies, who beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 Saturday night to win the weekend series.

Suárez’s scoreless streak, the longest in the majors this season and of his career, ended when he allowed Eguy Rosario’s two-out home run in the eighth inning. Suárez (5-0) allowed just three hits and struck out eight with no walks to win his fifth straight start.

Suárez threw 96 pitches. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth and the game lasted just 2 hours, 9 minutes.

Suárez said he wasn’t concerned about his scoreless streak, which tied for fifth-longest in franchise history.

“If I did keep it going, then OK. But that was not my focus,” he said through an interpreter. “I was just focusing pitching good innings and helping the team win.”

Manager Rob Thomson said Suárez probably would have gone out for the ninth if he had the shutout intact.

“Soft contact, stuff was really good,” Thomson said. “He had it all going. He was getting ahead of hitters and staying ahead of hitters. No walks all night. But I thought he had all his pitches going.

“He’s just having fun playing baseball right now,” the manager said.

Bohm, the third baseman, said it’s “been fun” playing behind Suárez.

“It’s a quick pace. He fills up the zone. There’s a lot of action,” Bohm said. “He’s not a guy going up there and pitching for strikeouts. He got quite a few tonight. But he’s attacking hitters. He gets soft contact. The infielders are fully engaged when he’s pitching.”

The Padres have been punchless in the first two games of this series after blowing a 9-4 lead at Colorado on Thursday and losing 10-9. They’ve lost three straight for the second time in a span of 10 games.

“Surgical’s the best way of saying it,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said about losing to Aaron Nola and then Suárez. “Suárez was tremendous. I mean, he threw the ball very well. Up, down, in, out. You think about the disruption of hitters’ timing and getting guys off balance.”

Bohm extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He hit a two-run homer to left field with two outs in the first, his fourth, and added a two-run single in the three-run fifth. Both were off Dylan Cease.

It was the Phillies’ sixth homer in the first two games of this series.

Cease (3-2) loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth and walked Bryce Harper to make it 3-0. Bohm followed with a two-run single to right. Trea Turner had three hits and scored on both of Bohm’s big hits.

Cease allowed five runs and six hits in six innings, struck out five and walked three.

UP NEXT

Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker, on the injured list since spring training with right shoulder soreness, is scheduled to make his season debut in the series finale on Sunday opposite Padres RHP Michael King (2-2, 4.11 ERA).

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This story has been corrected to show that Suárez did not issue a walk.

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CHICAGO (AP) — Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning for his second homer of the game and the season, giving the Chicago White Sox an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.

Benintendi had three hits and six RBIs to help Chicago win its second straight and for just the fifth time this season. Chicago’s 5-22 start is its worst in 27 games. Baltimore started 3-24 in 1988.

Benintendi ended it by smacking the first pitch he saw from Phil Maton (0-2) deep over the right-center wall for the first walk-off shot in his nine-year career.

“I was just looking for something up in the zone, something to drive to the outfield,” Benintendi said, “and put a good swing on it.

“I know what’s in the tank as far as what kind of power I have. It just starts with hard contact and swinging at good pitches.”

It was Benintendi’s sixth career multihomer game and the six RBIs matched a career high. The White Sox have won three straight at home, with a seven-game slide on the road in-between.

“For us right now it’s a day at a time when we’re in the position we are,” Benintendi said.

Automatic runner Curtis Mead scored from third on Deivi Garcia’s (1-2) wild pitch in the dirt in the top of the 10th to put Tampa Bay ahead 7-6.

Ben Sheets and Andrew Vaughn also drove in runs for Chicago.

Richie Palacios hit a two run drive and finished with three hits, but Tampa Bay lost for the fifth time in six, and a second straight to Chicago.

“We’re not doing well right now,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ve got to turn it around.”

Tampa Bay’s Austin Shenton hit his first career home run, a solo shot that barely cleared the left-field wall, and and doubled in his 10th game in the majors.

Ben Rortvedt went 3 for 3 and scored twice. He led off the eighth with a fly to right that bounded of the top of the wall, but was first called a home run on the field. After Rortvedt circled the bases and a crew-chief review, he was awarded a single.

“Obviously, its their first series win, but it’s just another series.” Rortvedt said. “These guys are a major league ballclub, and they’re going to win their games, but this was a pretty tough loss for us.”

Randy Arozarena drove in two runs with a double in the sixth to tie the game 6-all.

Tommy Pham, who had two hits in his White Sox debut on Friday, added two singles in this one. The 36-year-old outfielder raced home from third to beat Amed Rosario’s throw from second and score a go-head run in Chicago’s three-run fifth.

Chicago’s Jonathan Cannon scuffled in his third major league start, allowing four runs on eight hits in five innings.

Still, the 6-foot-6 right-hander exited with a 6-4 lead and was in line for his first win. But Dominic Leone, the first of five Chicago relievers, allowed two runs in the sixth on Palacio’s double.

“Cannon, despite not having his best, best stuff, he competed his butt off,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said.

Aaron Civale was tagged for six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings in his second straight rough outing.

The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second on José Caballero’s RBI single.

Palacio’s third homer, a drive to right, upped it to 3-0 in the fourth. Benintendi’s first homer, just over the right-center wall, tied it 3 all in the bottom half.

Shenton’s first career shot, aided by a steady wind, put Tampa Bay back head 4-3 in the fifth.

Chicago took a 6-4 lead in the bottom half. Sheets’ ground-rule double, Vaughn’s fielder’s choice grounder and Benintendi’s wind-blown pop single to short center drove in the runs.

Arozarena’s double tied it at 6 in the sixth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tampa Bay: OF Josh Lowe was nearing a return as from a right oblique strain, but will remain on the IL with a new injury, right hamstring tightness. Lowe, who has yet to play this season, is scheduled for an MRI on Monday. The 26-year-old broke out in 2023 with 20 homers, 83 RBIs and a .292 average. … INF Yandy Diaz was out of the lineup after being hit by a pitch on the left hand Friday. X-rays were negative and he was available off the bench.

UP NEXT

Tampa Bay sends RHP Zack Littell (1-1, 3.33) to the mound against Chicago RHP Erick Fedde (1-0, 2.73) on Sunday.

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ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Naylor and Ramon Laureano had RBIs in the 11th inning and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 on Saturday night in a game featuring the teams with the two best records in the majors.

Scott Barlow (1-2) escaped a bases loaded, no-out jam in the 10th inning, retiring Michael Harris II, Chadwick Tromp and Jarred Kelenic, to earn the win. Nick Sandlin pitched a perfect 11th to record his first save of the season.

“We’ve played a couple of these that have been exciting, but this one was fun,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “Two really good pitchers gave us seven innings of beautiful baseball. The back and forth, and the amount of talent on that field, it was a beautiful baseball game tonight.”

Naylor was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Steven Kwan was 3-for-5.

Tanner Bibee threw seven shutout innings for Cleveland, allowing just two hits to go along with nine strikeouts and no walks in his first career start against Atlanta. Bibee has thrown five or more innings with three or less runs allowed in 27 of his first 31 career starts, joining Matt Harvey as the only pitchers in MLB history to accomplish the feat.

“Throwing in a 0-0 game is always what you want to do,” said Bibee, who saw Braves starter Charlie Morton also throw seven scoreless. “You always want to have that adrenaline rush no matter how many innings you are going. He was awesome tonight. He held us to zero, I held them to zero and its just good baseball.

Barlow gave the Guardians a chance in the 10th, getting Harris to hit a tapper to the mound, striking out Tromp and inducing a grounder to second from Kelenic.

“When guys get out of big jams like that, that is the most exciting thing for us (in the bullpen),” said Sandlin said. “For him to do it with the bases loaded and a tie game, that was impressive.”

Dylan Lee (0-1) took the loss for the Braves, allowing one hit and one earned run. Morton surrendered four hits, one walk and struck out seven. The veteran threw 63 strikes on 93 pitches. Morton continued a string of quality starts for the Braves. In the last five games, Atlanta starters have given up just two runs in 36 2/3 innings.

The win was the seventh in the last nine games for the Guardians, who own the best record in the American League at 19-8. The Braves saw a four-game winning streak snapped.

Cleveland reliever Hunter Gaddis gave up his first two runs of the season in the eighth inning after the Guardians had taken a 2-0 lead.

Travis d’Arnaud hit a double that bounced on the left field foul line and scored Marcell Ozuna. Kelenic followed with a bloop single that scored Michael Harris II, but pinch runner Luke Williams was thrown out at the plate by Tyler Freeman.

The Guardians pushed two runs across in the eighth inning without hitting a ball out of the infield. Two infield hits and a bunt loaded the bases for José Ramírez. He grounded to second base and beat out the double play, allowing Bo Naylor to score. The Guardians then executed a double steal, with Ramírez just beating the throw at second base to give the Guardians a 2-0 lead.

“I can’t talk about (Ramírez) enough or find the words to describe what he does,” Vogt said. “He’s the epitome of a professional and the epitome of a baseball player.”

The Guardians nearly broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning. With two outs and Ramírez on first, Naylor hit a double down the right field line. Ronald Acuña Jr. fielded it before it reached the wall, threw it to first baseman Matt Olson, who nailed Ramirez at the plate.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (left middle finger swelling) threw 17 pitches at Triple-A Columbus on Friday as he gets closer to being activated, throwing 2/3 of an inning and allowing a hit and walk with one strikeout. Guardians manager Steven Vogt said he has at least one more rehab appearance with Columbus and then the team will reassess.

UP NEXT

The three-game series wraps up with Braves RHP Bryce Elder (1-0, 0.00) making his second start of the season against Guardians RHP Ben Lively (0-1, 2.38) on Sunday.

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Carlos Rodón pitched two-hit, one-run ball through six innings and the New York Yankees hit four home runs in a 15-3 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.

Alex Verdugo had a three-run homer in the first inning. Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo added two-run shots in the sixth that put New York up 11-1. It was Judge’s fifth homer of the season and Rizzo’s fourth.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer, his sixth, in the ninth off infielder Owen Weaver, who pitched the final two innings.

Rodón (2-1) allowed a solo homer in the first to Rhys Hoskins and a leadoff double in the sixth inning to Joey Ortiz. The 31-year-old lefty struck out eight and walked one. Luke Weaver tossed two scoreless innings. Milwaukee got two runs in the ninth off catcher Jose Trevino, who threw 11 of his 18 pitches for strikes.

“It’s always easy when the offense is firing like that,” Rodón said. “Getting an early lead I can just go right at the zone and get guys out. Hat’s off to them to get guys across the plate. Defensively, we played great. A good game overall.”

Rodón has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his six starts, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he still has room to improve.

“He’s not one-dimensional,” Boone said. “He’s got different ways of getting you out, depending on what he’s got that day. He can make adjustments. What I liked today, I thought as the game went on, the stuff ticked up and he continued to get sharper and a little bit better.”

New York posted season highs of 15 runs and 19 hits in snapping a two-game skid.

“As hard as it is in this league to score runs, and as good as the pitching is, to have a night like that, definitely is nice,” Boone said. “Hopefully little things that unlock and get a few guys going even more, but a really strong performance over all.”

Joe Ross (1-3) allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits, needing 99 pitches to get through five innings. He struck out five, walked three and hit a batter.

“He certainly wasn’t himself, as well as he’s pitched the first four times,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He hung in there and gave us five innings. It wasn’t perfect. That’s going to happen. I still thought there were some positives in there. Twenty-six games in and that’s the first time we haven’t had the winning run at the plate in the ninth inning.”

Verdugo staked the Yankees to a 3-0 lead with his fourth homer. Anthony Volpe was hit by a pitch to open the game and Juan Soto walked. After Judge struck out, Verdugo lined the first pitch 389 feet to right center.

The Brewers got one back in the bottom half on Hoskins’ sixth homer.

New York capitalized on Ross’ command issues for three more runs in third. Judge and Stanton walked and Rizzo reached on an infielder dribbler to load the bases with one out. Gleyber Torres, who had two RBI in his first 27 games, cleared the bases with a double to the gap in right-center, giving New York a 6-1 lead.

The Yankees made it 7-1 with an unearned run in the fifth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: RHP Ian Hamilton was expected to be available Saturday after being relegated to emergency duty only Friday, manager Aaron Boone said. Hamilton experienced soreness after playing catch Friday.

Brewers: LHP DL Hall, on the 15-day IL (sprained left knee) is playing catch and doesn’t have to be shut down completely. There is no timetable for his return.

BREWERS MOVE

Recalled RHP Janson Junk from Triple-A Nashville, optioned LHP Jared Koenig to Nashville. Junk relieved to open the seventh inning Saturday.

UP NEXT

Right-hander Marcus Stroman (2-1, 2.70) will be making his sixth start for the Yankees on Sunday. The Brewers counter with right-hander Tobias Myers (0-1, 1.80), making his second big league start.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Before the first of two games in Mexico City, Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said he hoped that the trip could help them solve their offensive struggles.

Apparently, it worked.

Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs, Kyle Tucker added a solo shot and the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 12-4 on Saturday night in the MLB World Tour: Mexico City Series to snap a five-game losing streak.

Alvarez hit a two-run homer to center field and Tucker followed with a shot to left field and the Astros took a 4-2 lead in the third. Alvarez hit his seventh home run of the season in the ninth inning.

“Today we were able to bat with runners in scoring positions, that’s a good sign for the team,” Espada said. “We took strong turns and we were able to spread the ball on the field, that really helped us today.”

Alvarez went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored and Yainer Diaz had three hits and scored three runs.

“When we saw the introductions, we knew that it was a moment to think that the season was just beginning for us,” Alvarez said. “We knew that we were struggling, but we trust in the team’s talent.”

Ronel Blanco (3-0) allowed two hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

The Rockies’ Cal Quantrill (0-3) allowed six hits and six earned runs in five innings.

“We have not played to our standards, but hopefully we get there,” said Rockies manager Bud Black. “For me, all was positive (from the game in Mexico) except for the outcome.”

Houston arrived in Mexico City after scoring just six runs in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, but the team took advantage of the 7,349-foot (2,240-meter) elevation of the Alfredo Harp Helú stadium to break the offensive slump with 15 hits against the Rockies.

The Astros also benefited from the support of the crowd, most of them wearing the team’s colors even though the Rockies were the home team.

“We did not feel like the visiting team, we felt at home. There was a tremendous passion and energy in the stadium, and it really felt like home,” Espada said.

The Rockies took the lead on Ryan McMahon’s two-run homer to center field in the first.

The Astros pulled ahead for good after Alvarez and Tucker hit their homers in the third.

The series marks the Astros’ second regular-season visit to Mexico. In May 2019, they swept the Angels in two games played in Monterrey. The Astros also played exhibition games in Mexico against the Padres in 2016 and Marlins in 2004.

The Rockies, who came south of the border after beating the Padres 10-9 at Coors Field, have yet to win consecutive games this season, the longest such stretch to begin a season in franchise history.

Colorado played their second regular-season game in Mexico. In 1999, they beat San Diego in their season opener, also at Monterrey.

URQUIDY MISSES THE CHANCE

José Urquidy played with the Astros in a exhibition game against the San Diego Padres in Mexico City in 2016, but a right arm injury left him out of the series against the Colorado Rockies.

“Back then (2016) I was a kid just dreaming of playing in the majors. It was a long process for me to become a starter in the MLB, but I made it,” said Urquidy, who despite not being able to play was joined by family and friends.

The right-hander, who was born in Mazatlan, invited some of his closest friends, some of whom lack visas to enter the United States and have never seen a major league game.

“Even though I’m not playing, I’m happy for them to be able to watch a major league game live. We had a day off (Friday) and they get to know some of my teammates. I’m happy for them,” Urquidy said.

The 28-year-old Urquidy said that he threw a bullpen session in Mexico City and feels close to a return to the rotation.

UP NEXT

Astros LHP Framber Valdez (0-0, 2.19 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday night against Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-1, 4.32) in the second game in Mexico City.

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — English rugby player turned offensive tackle prospect Travis Clayton was ready to join his International Pathway Program classmates on the NFL draft stage in Detroit on Saturday, when suddenly his agent came running from behind to hand him a cell phone.

A frantic and joyous minute later, Clayton had the stage all to himself after being selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 221st pick in the seventh round.

“It was all a bit of a blur, but luckily I managed to get on stage in time, dragged left, right and center,” a still breathless Clayton said with a Bills cap on his head during a Zoom call. “I hope I did it right on stage.”

The 23-year-old Clayton has a head start on many of his Pathway Program 2024 classmates, who took part in a 10-week training camp-type workout in Florida this winter.

Rather than being allocated to a team by the NFL or sign as an undrafted rookie, Clayton became the program’s second player to be selected in the draft. He joined Canadian Giovanni Manu, who was chosen earlier in the day by the Detroit Lions with the 126th pick.

At 6-foot-76 and 303 pounds, the 23-year-old Clayton has long been into athletics, having taken up rugby and boxing, and dabbled in soccer, rowing and tennis growing up, before drawing the line on a chance to try skeleton.

“I didn’t really fancy going head-first on a train down a skip slope, so I actually declined that,” he said with a laugh.

American football has been on his radar since 2019, when he took part in the NFL Academy.

“I love the physical side of things. Being on the offensive line, being able to take your anger out on people legally, it’s great,” he said. “I can just use my strength to my abilities.”

Clayton landed on the Bills radar after sending one of their scouts to take in the Pathway Program workouts. Soon after, Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer was studying a tape of Clayton, and forwarded it to general manager Brandon Beane.

“He was like, ‘Man, this guy’s athletic. Obviously, raw,’” Beane said of Kromer’s reaction, which eventually led to Buffalo using its ninth and final pick on Clayton.

“You know, I’ve never seen him really, truly play football,” Beane said. “But I know he was a rugby player, boxing and by all accounts a great young man. And his measurables are wowing off the page.”

The Bills can take a patient approach in developing Clayton.

For the first time this season, each team will have a 17th roster spot on the practice squad specifically available for an international player. Teams also are permitted to promote an international practice squad player to the active roster a maximum of three times throughout the season — increasing opportunities for players to develop and get a chance to play.

“We’re excited. Obviously he’s going to be raw. And, you know, this will be new to the game. But, really, his workout was impressive,” Beane said.

Of the 37 international players who have been allocated or signed with teams since 2017, five have made the active roster. They include Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who has started 57 games in four seasons.

Clayton said he wasn’t aware of the Bills interest in him until they called.

“I didn’t have visits with the Bills, but look, it’s the NFL, man. Buffalo came to me. Buffalo wanted me. I’m just ready to work,” he said. “I don’t think it’s really going to kick in yet until I actually get to Buffalo. But at the moment, it’s a world of emotions going on right now. It’s crazy.”

He referred to adapting to American football to learning a new language.

“I always had the dream of playing in the NFL. So hearing to get my name called out, that’s the main goal. That’s exactly what I wanted,” Clayton said. “There is a lot of steps still to be done, but the first step is a big one I’ve done. It’s a blessing.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

DETROIT (AP) — Matt Vierling hit a three-run homer to highlight Detroit’s five-run seventh inning and the Tigers beat Kansas City 6-5 Saturday night, ending the Royals’ four-game winning streak.

“When I hit it, I didn’t think it was going out,” said Vierling, whose 111-mph line drive had a 14-degree launch angle. “That’s a big comeback win, so I was fired up.”

Trailing 3-1, Detroit rallied against Chris Stratton (2-2) in the seventh. After Jake Rogers walked, Riley Greene and Mark Canha singled, driving in Rogers.

Wenceel Perez flew out to the wall in right, allowing Greene to take third, and Kerry Carpenter tied the game with a base hit. After Spencer Torkelson popped out, Vierling lined Stratton’s 1-2 sinker over the left-field fence to put the Tigers up 6-3.

“I left pitches over the middle,” Stratton said. “They are big league hitters and they did exactly what they are supposed to do.”

The Royals bullpen came into the game with a 2.12 ERA in its last 21 innings.

“Stratton’s going to pitch big innings for us,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Sometimes during those high-leverage situations, it doesn’t go your way, but he’s done this before and he’ll bounce back.”

The Royals scored twice in the ninth off Tigers closer Jason Foley, but Vinnie Pasquatino flew out to deep center to end the game.

“I threw a four-seamer up and got him,” Foley said. “He’s a really good hitter, so it felt great to get him out.”

The Tigers won despite four infield errors, two by Javier Báez.

“We can’t keep winning games like that,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “The fight in this team is really good, but this is unsustainable. You give them extra outs, and then Foley is looking at (Bobby) Witt Jr. and Pasquatino in the ninth inning.”

Alex Faedo (2-1) got the win with two innings of relief of starter Casey Mize, who allowed three runs, two earned, in five innings.

Royals starter Brady Singer allowed one run in five innings.

The Royals only needed four batters to take a two-run lead. Maikel Garcia and Witt Jr. started the game with singles, with Garcia moving to third. After Witt stole second, Pasquatino made it 1-0 with a RBI groundout, and Salvador Perez followed with an RBI single. The base hit extended Perez’s on-base streak to 17 games, matching his career high.

Kansas City made it 3-0 in the second with a pair of errors setting up Garcia’s RBI single.

The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of the inning, and could have had more. Colt Keith walked and scored on Zach McKinstry’s triple, but Singer got Báez and Rogers to ground out before striking out Greene to strand the runner.

UP NEXT

The teams finish the weekend series on Sunday with Tigers’ ace LHP Tarik Skubal (3-0, 1.82 ERA) facing RHP Michael Wacha (1-2, 3.81).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb