Apr 25, 2018 3 min read

Justin Verlander pitched seven sharp innings, AL MVP Jose Altuve hit his first home run of the season and the Houston Astros beat the Angels 5-2 Wednesday, ending Los Angeles’ road winning streak at a team record-tying 11 in a row.

Albert Pujols connected off Verlander for his 619th career homer. Pujols now has 2,994 hits.

Alex Bregman hit a three-run double and Jake Marisnick homered as Houston avoided a three-game sweep. The Angels had also won 11 straight road games in 1988.

Verlander (4-0) held the Angels hitless into the fifth inning before Zack Cozart singled with two outs. Verlander gave up two runs and four hits, striking out nine without a walk.

Seattle 4, Chicago White Sox 3: Mike Zunino homered and scored twice to back Felix Hernandez in the Seattle Mariners’ 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Chicago’s Yoan Moncada hit his first career leadoff homer. At 5-16, the White Sox are off to their worst start since 1950.

Tampa Bay 8, Baltimore 4: Joey Wendle had three hits and two RBIs, Adeiny Hechavarria homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat former teammate Alex Cobb and the Baltimore Orioles 8-4.

The game marked the return of left-hander Jonny Venters following a six-year absence and four major elbow operations, including three Tommy John surgeries. After being recalled from Triple-A Durham earlier in the day, the 33-year-old Venters used four pitches to retire Chris Davis – the only batter he faced – on a grounder in the sixth inning.

National League

Washington 15, San Francisco 2: Trea Turner got five hits, Matt Adams homered and drove in six runs, and the Washington Nationals broke out of their offensive funk in a big way, routing the San Francisco Giants 15-2 to end a four-game losing streak.

The Nationals had totaled just eight runs during their skid. Andrew Stevenson had two doubles, two singles and four RBIs as Washington set season highs for runs and hits (18).

Manager Dave Martinez’s ballclub has been stunted by a rash of injuries this season but salvaged the final game of the three-game series at AT&T Park series to end a rough 4-5 road trip. Max Scherzer (5-1) did his part, striking out 10 in six innings.

Colorado 5, San Diego 2: Jon Gray struck out 11 in six dominant innings and David Dahl lined a two-run triple, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres.

Gray (2-4) had pinpoint control in scattering three hits and walking one to break his three-game slide. The right-hander had at least one strikeout in every inning before being lifted for a pinch-hitter after throwing 101 pitches.

Atlanta 5, Cincinnati 4: Prized prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. singled and scored the tying run in the eighth inning of his big league debut, and the Atlanta Braves went on to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4.

The 20-year-old Acuna became the youngest player in the majors when he was called up from Triple-A before the game. He went 1 for 5 and played left field.