Twins Open Doubleheader With Loss to Astros

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Major league batting leader Jose Altuve got four hits, drove in three runs and scored three, sending the Houston Astros past the Minnesota Twins 15-7 Thursday in the first game of a split doubleheader.

Altuve has eight hits in his last nine at-bats, raising his average to .366. He is hitting .438 on the road.

Carlos Correa homered as Houston got a season-high 19 hits and won for just the fifth time in 16 games. Marwin Gonzalez tied a career high with four hits.

Kennys Vargas homered from each side of the plate for Minnesota.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar relieved Taylor Rogers in a three-run ninth inning and, after giving up a single, recorded three straight outs.

Doug Fister (11-7) threw seven-plus innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs.

Jose Berrios (2-3) was ineffective for the third straight start, lasting just two innings.