MINNEAPOLIS — Jose Altuve is keeping it simple.
"I’m just hitting the ball and there’s nobody there," the major league hitting leader said.
Altuve had his second straight four-hit game and team-record eighth of the season to help the Houston Astros rout the Minnesota Twins 15-7 on Thursday in the first game of a split doubleheader. The doubleheader was caused by a rainout Wednesday night in a game Minnesota led 5-0 in the third inning.
Altuve drove in three runs and scored three times. He has eight hits in his last nine at-bats, raising his average to .366. He’s hitting .438 on the road.
Astros starter Doug Fister (11-7) is glad he doesn’t have to face his teammate.
"He’s like a video game. He just continues to amaze," said Fister, who allowed eight hits and five earned runs in seven-plus innings. "For me, I’m just going to try and let him get himself out."
Carlos Correa homered, Houston finished with a season-high 19 hits and won for just the fifth time in 16 games. Marwin Gonzalez tied a career high with four hits.
"To be able to hit like with everybody putting great at-bats together, it’s fun," Correa said.
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.
Jose Berrios (2-3) was ineffective for the third straight start, lasting just two innings and giving up six runs and eight hits. Since his Aug. 1 recall from Triple-A, he has allowed 12 earned runs in 13 innings.
In seven starts this season, the righty has a 9.32 ERA over 28 innings, permitting 39 hits and 14 walks.
"About as poorly as you could draw it up, really, when you’re looking for an outing that gives you an opportunity to protect the rest of your staff the best you can," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It’s not always going to happen, especially when you’ve got a young kid out there. He’s trying hard. Probably trying a little too hard."
Altuve hit an RBI double off the wall in right-centre in the first inning and dashed for third base on the throw home. Catcher Juan Centeno’s throw to third sailed down the left-field line, allowing Altuve to trot home.
Four straight hits with two outs in the second made it 6-0. George Springer hit a two-run double, Alex Bregman had an RBI double and Altuve singled home a run.
"We were able to hit with two outs; we were able to hit with two strikes. We did a really good job of a team effort," said manager A.J. Hinch.
Correa hit his 17th homer, a three-run drive off Buddy Boshers as part of a six-run fifth inning.
Vargas snapped an 0-for-12 skid with a second-inning home run. He became the fourth player in team history to homer as both a left- and right-handed hitter in the same game with a two-run shot in the eighth off Tony Sipp.
"It’s good because I can show everybody that I’m a good hitter on both sides of the plate and that I’m really consistent on both sides of the plate," Vargas said through a translator.
DOUBLING UP
This was Houston’s 255th doubleheader, but first against an American League team. The Astros were in the National League from 1962-2012.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Hinch said RHP Luke Gregerson "felt fine" after an aggressive bullpen session Wednesday. Out with a strained left oblique muscle, Gregerson is eligible to come off the DL Friday.
Twins: Boshers was placed on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation. An MRI is planned for Friday. Because Albers was originally slated to be the 26th man for the second game of the doubleheader, the Twins had to forgo the extra player. … RHP Trevor May, put on the disabled list Wednesday with a lower back strain, was scheduled to see a specialist.
UP NEXT
Houston’s Chris Devenski (0-4, 2.51) and Minnesota’s Tommy Milone (3-3, 5.23) will each come out of the bullpen to start the nightcap.
