HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paddack (2-6) tied career highs by allowing 12 hits and nine runs — eight earned — in just four innings for his third straight loss.
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Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro (50) is congratulated by Harrison Bader (12) after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve hits a two-run double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa throws to first base after committing a fielding error during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña celebrates after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros designated hitter Jose Altuve is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston rookie starter Colton Gordon (2-1) gave up six hits and two runs with five strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Jeremy Peña tied a season-high with four hits and rookie Cam Smith had two hits and two RBIs as the AL West-leading Astros won their third straight.
Willi Castro, Royce Lewis and Ty France all hit solo homers for the Twins, who were blown out for the third time in four games after losing to Texas 16-4 Tuesday and 16-3 Thursday.
Lewis, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain, pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner.
Manager Rocco Baldelli said Lewis has a strained left hamstring but that they don't know how severe it is and expect to know more Saturday.
The Astros got to work early in this one. The bases were loaded with two outs in the first when Smith hit a two-run single to center field to make it 2-0. Melton followed with a single to right field to drive in another run.
There were runners on first and third with one out in the second when Altuve’s double scored two to make it 5-0.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the third but Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat.
Melton hit a two-run triple with no outs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 7-0. A sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón made it 8-0.
The Twins got on the board with Castro’s two-out homer in the fourth inning.
Altuve homered to left-center to start the bottom of the inning and make it 9-1.
Smith’s two-RBI single in the first that gave Houston the lead for good.
The Astros had four doubles to give them 15 in their last three games.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.96) on Saturday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro (50) is congratulated by Harrison Bader (12) after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve hits a two-run double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa throws to first base after committing a fielding error during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña celebrates after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros designated hitter Jose Altuve is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the short-handed Golden State Warriors for a 131-94 win Friday night.
Stephen Curry sat out because of a left ankle sprain and backcourt mate Jimmy Butler became ill earlier in the day. Draymond Green rested, while Jonathan Kuminga missed the game with back soreness.
That left Steve Kerr's starting lineup as Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Will Richard, Gui Santos and Quinten Post.
Kerr was optimistic Curry would play Saturday against the Jazz.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10 for 20 with three 3-pointers and converted all seven of his free throws for his seventh game in the last nine with 30 or more points — and now three straight. He had 38 points on 13-for-21 shooting with five 3-pointers in the last matchup against the Warriors.
Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and a season-best 15 rebounds — two off his career high — as Oklahoma City (30-5) won a fourth straight following its first two-game skid of the season.
Richard had 13 points and five rebounds, Al Horford and Moody also scored 13 while Pat Spencer dished out 11 assists against the defending champion Thunder, who had lost their previous two road games but also won 124-112 at Golden State exactly a month earlier on Dec. 2.
Richard's 3-pointer with 7:19 left in the second quarter got Golden State within 38-36 before Oklahoma City answered with a 19-0 run to go ahead 64-45 at halftime.
The Warriors had won two straight, five of six and three in a row at home, where they are in a stretch with 10 of 11 at Chase Center.
Thunder: Visit Phoenix on Sunday.
Warriors: Host Utah on Saturday night to complete a back-to-back.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) shoots while defended by Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)