A day after an 18-3 rout, Yordan Alvarez sets the tone in a 4-0 Astros win

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez doubled twice and drove in two runs to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-0 victory over the Athletics on Friday night.

The AL West leaders bounced back after an embarrassing 18-3 loss to the Angels on Thursday night behind the strong game from Alvarez, who leads the American League in batting average (.321), home runs (36) and RBIs (90).

His first double made it 2-0 in the fifth and his 28th double of the season, which bounced off the wall in left field, extended it to 4-0 in the seventh.

Houston starter Hayden Wesneski (3-1) allowed one hit and struck out four in five innings and four relievers completed the three-hitter.

J.T. Ginn (8-8) yielded six hits and three runs while walking two in five innings as the A’s lost their fifth straight.

Isaac Paredes walked to open Houston’s fourth before a double by Daulton Varsho. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when Paredes scored on a sacrifice fly by Christian Walker.

Nick Allen was on first with two outs in the fifth when Alvarez doubled to center field and Allen slid home just in front of the tag to make it 2-0.

Paredes then singled on a grounder to right field to score Alvarez and push the lead to 3-0.

Donovan Walton singled to give the Athletics their first hit with one out in the third and Henry Bolte walked with two outs in the inning.

Walton walked with two outs in the fifth but the A’s didn’t get another hit until a double by Jeff McNeil with one out in the sixth. There were two outs in the inning when Carlos Cortes singled, but Bennett Sousa struck out Lawrence Butler for the third out.

Houston RHP Hunter Brown (3-3, 3.67 ERA) opposes LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.22) when the series continues Saturday night.

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Houston Astros shortstop Nick Allen, left, turns a double play after forcing out Athletics' Henry Bolte (33) during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros pitcher Hayden Wesneski delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros' Nick Allen scores behind Athletics catcher Jonah Heim during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez watches his RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Rogers hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Jefry Yan with two out in the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox topped the New York Mets 6-4 on Friday night.

Colson Montgomery opened the ninth with a walk, and pinch-runner Braden Montgomery advanced on Brenton Doyle's sacrifice bunt. One batter later, Rogers drove a 98.1 mph fastball deep to center for his first homer since he was claimed off waivers from Boston last week.

Yan (1-1), known for his high-flying celebrations on the mound, was charged with his first loss in his seventh major league game.

Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk and Colson Montgomery hit back-to-back-to-back homers for Chicago in the sixth. Grant Taylor (5-2) got three outs for the win.

The AL Central leaders had dropped three of four.

Bo Bichette homered for New York, and Brett Baty had two hits and two RBIs. Marcus Semien contributed a run-scoring single.

The last-place Mets had won five of six.

New York jumped to a 4-0 lead. Luis Robert Jr. was credited with a double when Doyle misplayed his flyball to center in the fourth, and Baty followed with a liner to right for a two-run double. Bichette added a two-out solo drive in the fifth.

Sean Manaea pitched shutout ball for the Mets before running into trouble in the sixth. With Munetaka Murakami aboard after a one-out walk, Vargas hit a drive to left for his 29th homer. Grichuk went deep for his 11th on the season, and Montgomery tied it at 4 with his 27th of the year.

It was the second time this season that Chicago hit back-to-back-to-back homers. Murakami, Vargas and Montgomery also pulled off the feat in the second inning of an 11-5 win at Arizona on April 21.

RHP Christian Scott (4-3, 3.51 ERA) starts for New York on Saturday night, and RHP Luis Castillo (4-9, 4.99 ERA) pitches for Chicago.

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New York Mets pitcher Jefry Yan, right, and catcher Francisco Alvarez, left, interact while walking toward the mound during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas gestures after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Chicago White Sox's Jake Rogers gestures while running the bases after hitting a walkoff home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Chicago White Sox's Jake Rogers (28) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

New York Mets' Jared Young (29) celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea reacts during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke throws to a New York Mets batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Chicago White Sox shortstop Luisangel Acuña throws to first base during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Chicago, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)