BOSTON (AP) — Cam Smith hit a two-out, two-run single off the Green Monster in the 10th inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Sunday to take the series.
Jarren Duran hit a solo homer for the Red Sox, his second homer in three games after belting a three-run shot in Friday’s victory.
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Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Houston Astros' Cam Smith hits for a single allowing two runners to score during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston went 0 for 11 with runners on, stranding 13.
Boston starter Ranger Suárez left the game after four scoreless innings due to right hamstring tightness. Coming off eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball with 10 strikeouts in his last start, he gave up three hits, struck out three and walked one.
Astros first baseman Christian Walker was back in the lineup and went 2 for 3 after leaving Saturday’s win because he was hit in the helmet by a fastball. He went 6 for 10 in the series.
Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez was just 1 for 14 in the series with a single.
After Jose Altuve bounced into a rare 6-2-5 double play, Zack Kelly (0-2) reloaded the bases with a walk before Smith’s hit. Brice Matthews was cut down at the plate after Smith was in a rundown.
Bryan Abreu (1-2) worked two innings for the victory, getting Ceddanne Rafaela to bounce into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.
Making his first start since going on the injured list with mid-back inflammation April 13, Houston’s Cody Bolton went 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Duran homered into the right-field seats in the fifth and Houston tied it on Matthews’ sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Astros haven’t named a starter for their Monday home game against the Dodgers. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.87 ERA) is set to start for Los Angeles.
Red Sox LHP Payton Tolle (0-1, 3.38) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series Monday in Detroit against Tigers’ ace LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.70).
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Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Houston Astros' Cam Smith hits for a single allowing two runners to score during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Marcus Thuram scored one goal. Lautaro Martinez set up another.
The two players who have been at the heart of Inter Milan's success in recent seasons carried the club to the Italian league soccer title with a 2-0 victory over visiting Parma on Sunday.
Inter, which needed only a draw to secure the trophy, moved an unassailable 12 points clear of 2025 champion Napoli with three rounds remaining.
It’s Inter’s 21st Serie A title, trailing only the record 36 held by Juventus, and third in six years. But Inter hadn’t sealed the title before its home fans at the San Siro since the 1989 title — nearly four decades ago.
Thuram scored just before the break with an angled shot placed just beyond the reach of Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Then 37-year-old Henrikh Mkhitaryan added another in the 80th after taking a pass from Serie A scoring leader Martinez, who came off the bench to mark his return from an injury layoff.
Thuram was born in Parma while his father, Lilian Thuram, played there.
“Since I arrived at Inter, it’s been a team that loves to stay together — on and off the field — and that’s our strength,” Thuram said.
For Cristian Chivu, Inter’s first-year coach, the trophy was secured against the club he coached last season — having helped Parma avoid relegation.
Chivu, who was hired to replace the departed Simone Inzaghi nearly a year ago, played on the Inter team that won a treble under José Mourinho in 2010.
In the running for two trophies this season, Inter will face Lazio in the Italian Cup final in 10 days.
The domestic success has come in sharp contrast to Inter’s ouster from this season’s Champions League playoffs by tiny Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt. Last season, Inter was routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Still, it’s an improvement from last season’s Serie A when Inter finished one point behind Napoli.
"(Chivu) did so well bringing fresh energy, enthusiasm," Lautaro said. “After four great years with Simone, perhaps we needed a change of scenery after that Champions League final. Chivu made sure everyone felt involved and could even train with a smile. That really helped.”
Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella was reminded how he was a leader on the Italy team that failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
“That’s football and life. There are difficult moments,” Barella said. “For example, last season we came so close to everything and won nothing. In life you’ve always got to get back up on your feet.”
While Inter was celebrating, AC Milan and Juventus were at risk of losing their Champions League places.
Milan was reduced to 10 men and beaten 2-0 at Sassuolo for its fourth loss in seven matches. Then Juventus drew 1-1 with relegated Hellas Verona.
Third-placed Milan was left only two points ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, which is just three points ahead of fifth-placed Como, which is trying to get into the top four and secure a Champions League spot.
Three rounds remain in the Italian league.
Domenico Berardi scored early on for Sassuolo for his 12th career goal against Milan and Fikayo Tomori was sent off before Armand Lauriente doubled the advantage after the break.
Milan has scored only one goal in its last five matches.
Christian Pulisic, who came on in the second half, extended his goalless streak to a career-high 17 league matches.
Juventus also dropped points at home against Verona but extended its unbeaten run to nine matches.
Kieron Bowie put Verona ahead after intercepting a pass from Juventus defender Gleison Bremer then Dusan Vlahovic equalized for Juventus with a free kick around Verona’s wall for his first goal since October.
Also, Bologna was held 0-0 by Cagliari in a regional derby.
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Inter players celebrate the victory of their 21st championship after a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter Milan's head coach Cristian Chivu celebrates their victory at the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter players celebrate the victory of their 21st championship after a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter Milan's head coach Cristian Chivu gives instructions from the side line during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter players celebrate the victory of their 21st championship after a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter players celebrate the victory of their 21st championship after a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter Milan fans cheer as Inter Milan team bus arrives at the stadium prior to a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Hellas Verona in Turin, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)
Inter Milan fans cheer as Inter Milan team bus arrives at the stadium prior to a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram warms up prior to the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter Milan team bus arrives at the stadium surrounded by supporters prior to a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Parma, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Sassuolo's Kristian Thorstvedt, left, fights for the ball with Milan's Ardon Jashari during an Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Milan in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)
Players celebrate Sassuolo Domenico Berardi's first goal of the game during an Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Milan in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)
Cagliari's Alessandro Deiola scores a goal but referee Valerio Crezzini cancels the goal, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Cagliari, in Bologna, north Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
