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Brice Matthews hits first 2 big-league homers, leads Astros past the D-backs 6-3

Brice Matthews hits first 2 big-league homers, leads Astros past the D-backs 6-3

Fox Sportsa day ago
Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Brice Matthews hit his first two big-league homers and had five RBIs, Christian Walker added an RBI double in his return to Chase Field and the Houston Astros beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 on Monday night.
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. Key moment
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. Key stat
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. Up next
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.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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Milwaukee Brewers are an 'island of misfit toys' – and MLB's hottest team
Milwaukee Brewers are an 'island of misfit toys' – and MLB's hottest team

USA Today

time14 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Milwaukee Brewers are an 'island of misfit toys' – and MLB's hottest team

They're that Toyota Prius in a parking lot full of Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. They're that ground chuck burger on a menu with tomahawk steaks and lobster tails. They are the unwanted, the discarded, and the castoffs of Major League Baseball. They are the Milwaukee Brewers. 'The island," Brewers reliever Grant Anderson tells USA TODAY Sports, 'of misfit toys.'' It was the moniker Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook placed on his staff, with Brewers manager Pat Murphy chiming in, saying his entire team, is 'Just a bunch of average Joes." MLB POWER RANKINGS: Brewers sweep Dodgers again, leaving big-bucks LA in dust Well, these anonymous castoffs just may be the best darn team in all of baseball, tied with the Chicago Cubs for baseball's best record, 60-41, while winning 35 of their last 48 games, including 11 of their last 12. 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Sonny Gray Trade? Why Latest Mets, Cardinals Trade Buzz Makes No Sense
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Sonny Gray Trade? Why Latest Mets, Cardinals Trade Buzz Makes No Sense

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Iowa football trio named to preseason USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten team
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USA Today

time43 minutes ago

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Iowa football trio named to preseason USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten team

With Big Ten media days just around the corner for Iowa on Thursday in Las Vegas, USA TODAY Sports released its preseason All-Big Ten team. And the Hawkeyes had some good representation. The team was created by writers who cover every single team in the conference and features five unanimous selections, one of which was a Hawkeye. It may be a surprise to note that Iowa doesn't have a single defensive player on the team, a sign that people are taking a wait-and-see approach to a Hawkeyes defense that lost Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson, and Sebastian Castro, among others. Regardless, it's a nice nod for the three Hawkeyes named to this team and should have Iowa fans feeling more confident about the offense and special teams units on this year's team. Without any further ado, let's take a look at which Hawkeyes made USA TODAY Sports' preseason All-Big Ten team. Which Hawkeyes made the USA TODAY Sports preseason All-Big Ten team? Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, and Kaden Wetjen were the three Hawkeyes named to the team. Jones was one of five unanimous selections to the team, joining Jeremiah Smith and Sonny Styles of Ohio State, Olaivavega Ioane of Penn State, and Dominic Zvada of Michigan. The 6-foot-3, 302-pound graduate student center has anchored the Iowa offensive line for three years and was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media last season. Jones has also been named a preseason first-team All-Big Ten player by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele this offseason. Jones is joined on the USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten team by another offensive lineman in Gennings Dunker. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior right tackle was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and third-team All-Big Ten by the media last season. Dunker started at right tackle the last two seasons and has been a big stabilizing force on the offensive line alongside Jones. Dunker's role will be imperative this season with a new quarterback under center. The final Hawkeye to make the team was Kaden Wetjen, named as the All-Purpose player. The 5-foot-9, 196-pound senior return specialist started his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Iowa. He was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media last season, in addition to taking home the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award. Wetjen was named a preseason first-team All-Big Ten player by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele as well. This trio of Hawkeyes will be hugely important to the success of Iowa football in 2025. Assuming they play up to the standards that everyone believes they can, Iowa's offensive line should be really good and the special teams will set them up with short fields. The Hawkeyes return to the field in just over a month for the season opener on Aug. 30 against Albany. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney

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