Jose Altuve, Jeremy Peña power the Astros past the Guardians, 9-3

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a three-run home run, Jeremy Peña had two solo shots and the Houston Astros beat the Cleveland Guardians 9-3 on Friday night.

Altuve’s eighth home run of the season came on the first pitch of the night from Guardians reliever Matt Festa. It landed in the first row of the left- field Crawford Boxes.

Peña’s first home run of the night came in the third inning to cut Cleveland’s lead to a run, and then he led off the seventh with his sixth home run of the season and third multi-homer game of his career. He finished the night 3 for 5 with three RBIs.

Altuve added an RBI double later in the inning for a season-high four RBIs.

After failing to complete the first inning in his previous start, Tatsuya Imai (4-3) struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing three runs on six hits over six innings without issuing a walk. He retired the final 11 he faced after giving up a two-run homer to Rhys Hoskins in the third inning.

The 11 strikeouts were a season high by an Astros pitcher, and it’s the first time they’ve had a pitcher strike out at least 11 without walking a batter since Yusei Kikuchi on Aug. 31, 2024.

Houston's Yordan Alvarez was 1 for 4 with a walk to extend his on-base streak to 25 games.

Tanner Bibee (2-8) was charged with four runs, three earned, over 5 1/3 innings.

Erik Sabrowski allowed two runs over 1/3 of an inning for Cleveland after being reinstated from the injured list before the game.

Astros RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-2, 2.57 ERA) was set to face LHP Joey Cantillo (5-3, 4.38 ERA) on Saturday.

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

Cleveland Guardians right fielder Kahlil Watson catches a fly ball hit by Houston Astros' Christian Walker during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 19, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros second baseman Raynel Delgado (29) and shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) celebrate after a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros' Jake Meyers scores on a hit by Jeremy Peña during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña (3) celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vinícius Júnior showed why he's the most valuable player for five-time World Cup champion Brazil, scoring one goal and helping to create two others in a 3-0 victory over Haiti on Friday night.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old left winger scored at the end of the first half on a breakaway, casually flicking the ball past Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide. He also assisted on one goal by Matheus Cunha and set up a rebound that led to another.

Vinícius' breakout performance brought Brazil back in the wake of a 1-1 draw against Morocco last week that left coach Carlo Ancelotti apologizing to fans. After applying steady pressure against Haiti in the opening minutes, Brazil broke through with an offensive torrent.

Vinícius took a bending shot that rebounded off Placide's gloves and set up Cunha for the put-away that made it 1-0. Thirteen minutes later, he set Cunha up with a long feed that Cunha drove into the net.

In the third minute of injury time, it was Vinícius who corralled a long pass and easily won the 1-on-1 matchup with the diving goalkeeper.

He nearly had another assist halfway through the second half with a one-touch pass to an open Gabriel Martinelli, who launched the ball off the post.

Before the game, the player nicknamed “Viní” had said he thought he had more to show in the tournament — even after scoring the goal that brought Brazil even with Morocco.

Coming off scoring 16 goals in 36 games with Real Madrid, he made an effort to help the defense on several occasions against Haiti and created numerous scoring chances.

Brazil and Morocco are tied atop Group C with four points, followed by Scotland with three.

The Brazilians are ranked sixth in the world; Haiti is 85th and became the first team eliminated from the tournament.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Brazil's Vinicius Junior runs with the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match against Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior leaves the pitch to be substituted during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) scores the third goal for his team against Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide (1) during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)