HOUSTON -- It was, not surprisingly, red-hot Alex Bregman who got the offense ignited on Wednesday night, slamming a two-run homer in third inning. And his three-run double in the eighth inning was icing on the cake for the surging Astros.
Bregman continued his assault of opposing pitchers by going 2-for-3 with a homer, double, five RBIs and two walks to lead the Astros to their fifth win in a row with a 9-1 victory and a three-game sweep of the Twins at Minute Maid Park.
Houston, which has won 12 of its last 15, now holds a four-game lead over the A's -- pending Oakland's result against the Yankees on Wednesday night -- for first place in the American League West.