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Gurriel stays hot, Verlander solid, Astros blank Nats 8-0

Sun, May 15, 2022
MLB News (AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Yuli Gurriel went 3-for-4 with a homer, Justin Verlander pitched five scoreless innings and the Houston Astros beat the Washington Nationals 8-0 on Sunday.

Jose Altuve, Martin Maldonado and Chas McCormick also homered for the Astros. Gurriel finished the series 8-for-12 with two homers and four RBIs.

A day after allowing 13 runs as Houston's 11-game winning streak ended, Astros pitchers returned to form, tossing their fourth shutout in seven games, a four-hitter kicked off by Verlander.

After taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his last start, Verlander (5-1) didn't allow a hit Sunday until surrendering back-to-back singles with one out in the fifth. Manager Dusty Baker opted to leave him in and Verlander retired Cesar Hernandez on a popup before getting Juan Soto to ground out with his 107th pitch.

Verlander struck out five and walked three in his in his seventh start since returning from Tommy John surgery.

Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (0-6) was solid early before allowing home runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. He allowed five runs on six hits over six-plus innings. Washington has lost each of Corbin's eight starts.

McCormick walked with one out in the fifth. Corbin caught him leaning at first, but Josh Bell's throw to second was wide and McCormick was safe. The Nationals challenged but lost the appeal, and Maldonado sent Corbin's next pitch over the visitors' bullpen in left center to make it 2-0.

Gurriel hit a solo homer in the sixth and McCormick's two-run shot with no outs in the seventh ended Corbin's afternoon. Altuve homered leading off the ninth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: SS Jeremy Pena (knee) missed his third game. Baker said Saturday he expected Pena to play Sunday, but Pena woke up sore and was given another day.

DUBON'S DEBUT

Infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubon, acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, made his Astros debut. He played the final two innings at shortstop and went 0 for 1. Houston optioned infielder Niko Goodrum to Triple-A Sugar Land. He hit .116 in 15 games for the Astros.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.38 ERA) pitches the opener of a three-game series at Boston on Monday. He is 5-7 with a 4.87 ERA in 20 career starts against the Red Sox.

Nationals: RHP Aaron Sanchez (2-2, 7.58) opens a three-game series at Miami. He was 1-0 with a 0.93 ERA in two starts against the Marlins last season.

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