Alex Bregman hits 3-run HR, Yordan Alvarez follows with solo shot as Astros beat Red Sox 10-2

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer to key a five-run fifth inning, Yordan Alvarez followed with his third homer in two games and the Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 10-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.

It was the fifth straight win for the AL West-leading Astros, who also swept a three-game series in Fenway Park last season. Houston has won seven of its last eight series in Boston.

“Big swings, a ton of good at-bats throughout,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of the series.

Jeremy Peña added a two-run homer and Yainer Diaz had a two-run double for the Astros, who improved to a season-best seven games over .500 (62-55).

Boston starter James Paxton limped off the field after straining his right calf while making a quick move to cover first on a grounder in the opening inning.

“I felt like I got kicked in the calf. Then, I kind of turned around, took another step and I felt it again,” Paxton said. “I was like: ‘It's not good. It's my calf.' I felt it pop.”

The Red Sox have lost four straight, and they’ve given up a major-league worst 47 homers since the All-Star break. Boston came in an MLB-best 16-3 in Sunday games.

Boston first baseman Dominic Smith pitched a scoreless ninth, with his first pitch recorded at 32 mph. He tipped his cap walking off after getting a loud ovation.

Hunter Brown (10-7) struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs.

With Houston leading 1-0, Bregman hit a shot against Brennan Bernardino an estimated 441 feet that left Fenway completely over the Green Monster. Alvarez then sent his drive into the center-field bleachers.

Alvarez went 2 for 2, increasing his average to .482 in 15 career games in Fenway with eight homers and 20 RBIs.

“Just to be able to be his teammate and be able to watch what he does on a day-to-day basis is special,” Bregman said of Alvarez. “He hits for average line-to-line, hits the ball out of the ballpark anywhere, so he's always fun to watch and he's very clutch, too. ... He always gets his ‘A' swing off.”

After hitting two homers a day earlier, the 27-year-old slugger was compared by Red Sox manager Alex Cora to Hall of Famer and former Red Sox star David Ortiz, along with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

“For me, he’s up there with Judge, to be honest with you,” Cora said. “Closest thing to David, probably, in the game. Very, very, very similar to David Ortiz.”

Peña’s drive also cleared the Monster seats, coming in a four-run sixth that made it 10-0.

Reliever Lucas Sims (1-6) was the loser after Bernardino’s wild pitch allowed a runner that he left on to score

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Espada said “everything was positive” on ace RHP Justin Verlander after he had a rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday night. They were waiting to hear from Verlander, but the plan is another rehab start before thinking about coming back to the majors. ... Bregman slid into a wall hard chasing a foul pop, but stayed in.

Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers had the day off. “He’s been grinding through it,” Cora said. “It makes sense and hopefully (Monday) he’ll be back.” ... SS Trevor Story is still expected to take BP on the field Monday as he works back from shoulder surgery quicker than originally expected.

UP NEXT

Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (11-5, 3.46 ERA) is expected to start the opener of a three-game series Monday on the road against Tampa Bay.

Red Sox: Cora said RHP Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.16) would come off the paternity list and make his start Monday when Boston plays the first of three against Texas. RHP Tyler Mahle (0-1, 1.80) is slated to start for the Rangers.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher James Paxton limps off the field between manager Alex Cora, left, and a trainer during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Sims throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón (14) scores after a wild pitch by Boston Red Sox's Brennan Bernardino (83) during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz, right, celebrates the three-run home run by Alex Bregman that also drove in Jose Altuve, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) stands on the mound after relieving pitcher Brennan Bernardino, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña (3) celebrates his two-run home run behind Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, right, that also drove in Yainer Diaz (21) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña watches his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman celebrates his three-run home run with Yordan Alvarez (44) that also drove in Pedro León (4) as Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong kneels at home plate during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman (2) watches his three-run home run in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Suspicious packages were sent to election officials in at least six states on Monday, but there were no reports that any of the packages contained hazardous material.

Powder-containing packages were sent to secretaries of state and state election offices in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wyoming and Oklahoma, officials in those states confirmed. The FBI and U.S. Postal Service were investigating. It marked the second time in the past year that suspicious packages were mailed to election officials in multiple state offices.

The latest scare comes as early voting has begun in several states less than two months ahead of the high-stakes elections for president, Senate, Congress and key statehouse offices around the nation, causing disruption in what is already a tense voting season.

Several of the states reported a white powder substance found in envelopes sent to election officials. In most cases, the material was found to be harmless. Oklahoma officials said the material sent to the election office there contained flour. Wyoming officials have not yet said if the material sent there was hazardous.

The packages forced an evacuation in Iowa. Hazmat crews in several states quickly determined the material was harmless.

“We have specific protocols in place for situations such as this,” Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement after the evacuation of the six-story Lucas State Office Building in Des Moines. “We immediately reported the incident per our protocols."

A state office building in Topeka, Kansas was also evacuated due to suspicious mail sent to both the secretary of state and attorney general, Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson April M. McCollum said in a statement.

In Oklahoma, the State Election Board received a suspicious envelope in the mail containing a multi-page document and a white, powdery substance, agency spokesperson Misha Mohr said in an email to The Associated Press. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, which oversees security for the Capitol, secured the envelope. Testing determined the substance was flour, Mohr said.

State workers in an office building next to the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne were sent home for the day pending testing of a white substance mailed to the secretary of state’s office.

Suspicious letters were sent to election offices and government buildings in at least six states last November. While some of the letters contained fentanyl, even the suspicious mail that was not toxic delayed the counting of ballots in some local elections.

One of the targeted offices was in Fulton County, Georgia, the largest voting jurisdiction in one of the nation’s most important swing states. Four county election offices in Washington state had to be evacuated as election workers were processing ballots cast, delaying vote-counting.

The letters caused election workers around the country to stock up the overdose reversal medication naloxone.

Election offices across the United States have taken steps to increase the security of their buildings and boost protections for workers amid an onslaught of harassment and threats following the 2020 election and the false claims that it was rigged.

Salter reported from O'Fallon, Missouri. Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan. Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Summer Ballentine in Columbia, Missouri; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

FILE - William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower stands June 22, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

The Oklahoma State Election Board Office inside the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, was one of at least five states in the U.S. which election officials received suspicious packages on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy)

The Oklahoma State Election Board Office inside the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, was one of at least five states in the U.S. which election officials received suspicious packages on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy)