Kyle Tucker recorded his sixth career multi-homer game while rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti pitched into the seventh inning for the first time as the Houston Astros claimed the rubber match of their interleague series with the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 9-4 on Sunday.
Tucker, who struck out three times against Brewers starter Colin Rea, cranked his 14th and 15th home runs of the season against relievers Thyago Vieira and Mitch White, respectively. He is tied with Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson for the major league lead.
He slugged a solo home run with one out in the sixth inning to extend the Houston lead to 6-1. His three-run blast in the bottom of the seventh proved pivotal, as it matched the Brewers’ three-spot in the top of that frame and helped the Astros to their ninth victory in 11 games.
The first of Tucker’s two homers carried 390 feet to right-center field. His second dropped into the first row of seats in left and drove home Victor Caratini and Jose Altuve.
Arrighetti (2-4) surrendered an RBI single to Christian Yelich in the top of the first that spotted Milwaukee a 1-0 lead, but the Astros answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame off Rea (3-2).
Altuve opened with his eighth home run and 37th career leadoff homer. Jon Singleton produced a run-scoring groundout with the bases loaded and Jake Meyers (3-for-5) delivered a two-run, opposite-field double that keyed his second consecutive three-hit game.
Arrighetti cruised into the seventh, twice retiring the side, before the Brewers mounted a rally against him and reliever Bryan Abreu.
Joey Ortiz (single), Sal Frelick (walk) and Blake Perkins (swinging bunt single) all reached safely before Abreu entered to face the top of the Milwaukee order with one out. Brice Turang greeted Abreu with a two-run single that bounced into right field before Yelich added an RBI single two batters later that scored Turang and sliced what was once a five-run deficit to 6-4.
Tucker helped the Astros reclaim their five-run cushion with his third multi-homer game this season.
Arrighetti allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Right-hander Tayler Scott worked the final two innings in relief for the Astros.
Tucker, Singleton, Jeremy Pena and Joey Loperfido each recorded two-hit games for Houston.
–Field Level Media
