Brice Matthews hits first 2 big-league homers, leads Astros past the D-backs 6-3
Matthews went deep in the second inning with a three-run shot, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. His two-run homer in the seventh pushed the Astros ahead 6-3.
The 23-year-old second baseman is one of the Astros' top prospects and a first-round pick in 2023.
The Diamondbacks had their four-game winning streak snapped. Eugenio Suarez hit his NL-leading 36th homer.
Arizona's Zac Gallen (7-11) gave up six runs over six innings. He's given up 23 homers this year, which is already the most in a season in his career.
Houston lefty Colton Gordon (4-2) gave up three runs — two earned — over 5 2/3 innings. Josh Hader worked the ninth for his 26th save in 27 chances.
The D-backs had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but Josh Naylor flied out to right to end the game.
Walker had two hits while playing against the D-backs for the first time since he left the team for Houston in free agency during the offseason. He hit 146 homers over eight seasons in Arizona, helping the franchise reach the World Series in 2023.
D-backs star Ketel Marte returned to the lineup for the first time since his house was burglarized over the All-Star break . The D-backs left 11 runners on base.
The D-backs loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but reliever Bennett Sousa retired Marte on a fly ball to left to end the threat.
Gallen reached 1,000 career strikeouts in the fourth inning. He's the second pitcher who debuted in 2019 to hit the mark, joining Dylan Cease.
The Astros send LHP Framber Valdez (10-4, 2.75 ERA) to the mound against Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-6, 5.94) on Tuesday.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
As Terry McLaurin shifts from holdout to hold-in, Commanders' roster designation gives a clue
ASHBURN, Va. — As the Washington Commanders kicked off their fourth practice of training camp, a familiar face was back in the building. Pro Bowl receiver Terry McLaurin reported to training camp Saturday after skipping spring practices including mandatory minicamp and the first week of training camp. McLaurin did not return to practice Sunday, instead landing on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with an ankle injury after his Saturday physical examination. 'I got a chance to sit [with him] yesterday, which I was glad,' head coach Dan Quinn told Yahoo Sports on Sunday. 'He was in a very strong head space. In a good way.' [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] McLaurin was holding out ahead of his seventh season in Washington, the final season remaining on his second career contract. Now, he's holding 'in' with what the Commanders are describing as rehabilitation for his ankle. McLaurin has caught 460 catches for 6,379 yards and 38 touchdowns since Washington selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He's coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, McLaurin finding the end zone 13 times on 82 catches for 1,096 yards during quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie season. Quinn said McLaurin's ankle bothered him at the end of last season, and it's 'not that uncommon' for an ankle injury to linger. But McLaurin's designation on the physically unable to perform list rather than injured reserve is notable — most particularly for the flexibility it provides. While PUP designation costs teams a roster spot that injured reserve players do not, the mechanism also allows players to return at any point. A player who receives a much-anticipated contract extension could, hypothetically, return to practice participation immediately afterward. 'You can come off any time,' Quinn said. 'There's not like, 'Hey you have to be on it for this amount of time.'' [Get more Commanders news: Washington team feed] McLaurin can attend meetings and work on rehabilitation exercises with strength and conditioning coaches or athletic trainers. He cannot work with coaches on the field, nor practice in walkthroughs, practices or any 'football activities.' But once he comes off PUP, he would be cleared to do anything. Any slower timeline would be by choice. 'Most times, teams [decide], 'OK, we're going to start on just individual and then go a little bit of team,'' Quinn said. 'So there's usually a self-imposed ramp up after you come off PUP. 'But there doesn't have to be.' How much might McLaurin command? McLaurin signed fan autographs Sunday despite not participating in practice. His take on the rehabilitation plan amid negotiations? 'It's tough,' McLaurin said. 'But it's the business right now, and just trying to take things day by day.' With one year left on his second career contract, McLaurin is due $19.65 million cash this year. He spoke recently about his frustration with the lack of an extension, particularly after McLaurin was a bright spot through five years of Washington football without a winning record. The receiver market has exploded in recent years, with the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase becoming the first receiver awarded a contract that reached $40 million per year in new money. The Minnesota Vikings gave Justin Jefferson a $35 million per year extension last offseason, just before the Dallas Cowboys awarded CeeDee Lamb $34 million per year. Jefferson's $110 million in guarantees topped the market, Chase's $109.8 million and Lamb's $100 million following suit. It's unlikely the Commanders view those three as realistic comparisons for McLaurin's next deal. While McLaurin has averaged 1,118 receiving yards per 17-game season (he joined the league in the good old days of 16), he's older and has been less prolific than the top-earning trio. McLaurin will turn 30 on Sept. 15; Chase is 25 this season while Lamb and Jefferson are 26. More reasonable comparisons begin with those of McLaurin's 2019 draft classmates, A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf. The Philadelphia Eagles awarded Brown a three-year extension worth $32 million per year with $90 million guaranteed, while the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks in conjunction with a three-year extension worth $32.99 million per year including $80 million in guarantees. The Eagles afforded that while paying quarterback Jalen Hurts, among other stars. The Steelers are getting somewhat of a discount from Aaron Rodgers' $10 million paycheck, but they just gave edge rusher T.J. Watt a record-setting contract worth $41 million per year. The Commanders don't have more than $26 million in salary cap space allocated to any player, thanks in part to Daniels' cost-effective rookie contract. McLaurin's agent, Buddy Baker, was at the Commanders' facility Sunday. Will an extension materialize from the visit? Quinn tried not to focus on the business nor the timelines Sunday, instead lauding the NFC championship berth roster's leading receiver as 'a serious competitor, but a pro's pro.' Quinn said he viewed the return to the facility, even if under restrictions, was encouraging. He said he does not resent McLaurin's business decisions. 'In that space, what I've learned is give people grace,' Quinn said. 'You don't know a coach, a player who's dealing with what how it's affected you. So my No. 1 goal is man, keep the main thing, the main thing between players and coaches. So it's tricky and it's hard.' Slightly less difficult after McLaurin's arrival in Ashburn. 'I'm really pumped that he's here, man,' Quinn said. 'He's such an awesome competitor. 'It was great to see him.'
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Carlos Santana wins race to bag to end 7th
Carlos Santana sprints and slides into first base, beating Maikel Garcia to the bag to end the top of the 7th inning
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tomoyuki Sugano throws 6 sharp innings, Tyler O'Neill homers again to help Orioles beat Rockies 5-1
BALTIMORE (AP) — Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings of four-hit ball, Tyler O'Neill homered in a third straight game and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Colorado Rockies 5-1 on Sunday. Dylan Carlson drove in two runs for the Orioles, who followed Saturday night's 18-0 blowout with a more conventional victory in the deciding matchup of a three-game series between last-place clubs. Sugano (8-5) gave up one run, walked two and matched his career high with eight strikeouts. The 35-year-old righty, who signed a one-year contract with Baltimore in December, could be headed to a contender before Friday's trade deadline. Although he was impressive on Sunday, Sugano has yielded 21 homers in 20 games and had a 7.88 ERA over his previous seven starts. After languishing on the injured list from mid-May to early July, O'Neill appears to have found his stroke. Three of his six homers this season came in this series, including a two-run drive in the third inning Sunday off Austin Gomber (0-5) that made it 4-1. Colorado's lone tally came on a solo shot by Warming Bernabel, his first homer in the majors after making his big league debut on Saturday. The Rockies own a 27-78 record, same as the 2024 Chicago White Sox after 105 games. Those White Sox didn't win No. 28 until ending a 21-game skid on Aug. 6, and finished with a single-season record 121 defeats. Key moment Baltimore added a run in the eighth when Gunnar Henderson hustled from second base to home on a wild pitch that catcher Austin Nola was slow to retrieve. Key stat Half of O'Neill's 26 hits this season have gone for extra bases: six homers, six doubles and a triple. In addition, six of his 17 RBIs this season have come in the last three games. Up next Rockies: Bradley Blalock (1-2, 8.67 ERA) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland. Orioles: Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.78) takes on the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards on Monday night. ___ AP MLB:
