Astros triumph 4-3 over White Sox as Paredes homers, Altuve shines with 2 doubles

HOUSTON (AP) — Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer and Jose Altuve doubled twice and had two RBIs to lead the Houston Astros over the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Thursday night.

Houston led 4-2 entering the ninth before Mike Tauchman homered to right field off closer Josh Hader to get Chicago within 4-3. There were two outs when Miguel Vargas narrowly missed a homer on a double off the wall in left field.

But Hader struck out Austin Slater to improve to 18 of 18 on save opportunities this season.

Paredes appeared to injure his leg trying to beat out a double play in the seventh inning and was replaced at third base in the eighth. Manager Joe Espada said he had an unspecified injury to his left hamstring but that they don't believe that it's serious. He added that they'd have more information on Friday.

The Astros led by one with one out in the fifth when Paredes connected on his shot to left-center off Davis Martin (2-7) to make it 4-2. Martin yielded seven hits and four runs with five strikeouts in six innings.

Houston starter Framber Valdez (7-4) allowed seven hits and two runs with a season-high 12 strikeouts in five innings.

Edgar Quero had three hits and two RBIs and Vargas had two doubles and a triple for the White Sox, who fell to 7-28 on the road.

Altuve, who is primarily playing left field this season after spending his first 14 seasons at second base, made a leaping grab near the wall in left field in the seventh to rob Chase Meidroth of extra bases.

Hader's strikeout of Slater to end it.

Hader has the most saves without a blown save in the majors this season and his streak is the second longest in franchise history to start a season behind a 21-game streak by Dave Smith in 1989.

The White Sox open a three-game series at Texas and the Astros play the opener of a three-game series against Minnesota on Friday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Houston Astros' Isaac Paredes, right, celebrates with Jose Altuve (27) after hitting a home run against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates in the dugout after scoring against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston Astros' Isaac Paredes hits a home run against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander had a goal and two assists in his return from an injury, Joseph Woll made 29 saves for his second shutout of the season and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-0 on Saturday night.

Nylander missed six games because of a lower-body injury.

Matias Maccelli, Max Domi, John Tavares and Nick Robertson also scored for Toronto. The Maple Leafs improved to 22-15-7. They have won three straight and seven in a row at home.

Thatcher Demko was pulled after giving up three first-period goals on six shots for Vancouver. Kevin Lankinen stopped 16 shots in relief as the Canucks dropped to 16-23-5 with their sixth loss in a row.

Maccelli opened the scoring on the Maple Leafs’ second shot 8:03 into the first period. Nylander and Auston Matthews had a give-and-go before Nylander sent a centering pass in front for Maccelli to tip in.

Domi scored with 3:29 left after being sprung ahead into a partial breakaway by Troy Stecher.

A streaking Nylander skated around Marcus Pettersson off a feed from Steven Lorentz and tucked in a backhander just out of the reach of Demko’s stretched out leg with 20 seconds left in the first.

Nylander found Tavares all alone behind Vancouver’s defense and Tavares roofed it past Lankinen with 6:53 left in the second period. Robertson scored on a power play with 13.4 seconds left in the third.

Canucks: At Montreal on Monday night.

Maple Leafs: At Colorado on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews, left, and goaltender Joseph Woll, right, celebrate after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) celebrates after his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Domi, left, and Vancouver Canucks' Marcus Pettersson, right, fight during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Domi (11) and Vancouver Canucks' Marcus Pettersson, bottom, fight during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Domi (11) and Vancouver Canucks' Marcus Pettersson, bottom, fight during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)