Dodgers Offense, Bullpen Continue To Struggle In 5th Straight Loss
HOUSTON (AP) — Jason Castro's solo homer in the 10th inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 3-2 victory and a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
There was one out in the 10th when Castro connected off Chris Hatcher (1-5), launching a 96 mph fastball into the first row of the seats in left field. The play was reviewed and confirmed.
Kenley Jansen, who had converted 17 straight save opportunities, allowed a leadoff single to rookie Carlos Correa in the ninth before the Astros tied it up on a two-out RBI single by Marwin Gonzalez.
Luke Gregerson (7-2) allowed one hit in a scoreless 10th for the win.
The NL West-leading Dodgers were swept by the Astros for the first time since May of 2008 and have dropped a season-high five straight overall.
Clayton Kershaw allowed seven hits and one run with 10 strikeouts in eight innings. He is 5-0 in his last nine starts and hasn't lost since June 27.
Chase Utley doubled and scored in the first for the Dodgers. A.J. Ellis did the same in the fifth to make it 2-0.
Jose Altuve had three hits and Correa had an RBI single that cut it to 2-1 in the sixth for the Astros, who remain atop the AL West standings.
Houston rookie Lance McCullers allowed eight hits and two runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings. McCullers, who was recalled from Double-A Corpus Christi for the start, pitched well but was done in by three wild pitches.
Utley doubled with one out in the first inning and took third on a wild pitch. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Turner to make it 1-0.
A double by Ellis came with one out in the fifth inning and two wild pitches by McCullers with two outs allowed him to score and extend the lead to 2-0.
The Astros didn't have more than one hit in an inning until the sixth, when Altuve doubled with one out before a single by Carlos Gomez. Correa's groundball single, which bounced off Kershaw's left foot, scored Altuve to cut the lead to 2-1.
Gomez reached third on a sacrifice fly before ending the inning when he was caught trying to steal home. The Astros challenged the call but it was confirmed.
Yasiel Puig was ejected for arguing with the umpire after he struck out looking for the second out of the ninth inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: OF George Springer (broken right wrist) is expected to take batting practice Monday or Tuesday for the first time since he was injured. Springer has been on the disabled list since July 2 and resumed baseball activities Aug. 14. "It's very encouraging and I think that's when it starts to feel real that he's becoming more and more of an active player when his normal routine is like any other player on our team," manager A.J. Hinch said. "So I'm thrilled with the progress that he's made." ... 3B Jed Lowrie left the game in the seventh inning with a bruised right thumb.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: The Dodgers are off on Monday before beginning a series at Cincinnati on Tuesday, when left-hander Alex Wood (8-8, 3.79) opposes Cincinnati's John Lamb (0-1, 6.35). Wood allowed five hits and three runs for the loss in his last start.
Astros: Scott Feldman (5-5, 4.05) opposes New York's Nathan Eovaldi (13-2, 4.24) when Houston opens a series with the Yankees. Feldman is 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in six starts since a stint on the disabled list after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
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