Duran home runs as Red Sox overcome errors to beat Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi was minutes away from a pregame meeting with catcher Christian Vázquez to go through Houston’s scouting report when he learned Vázquez would not be facing the Red Sox Monday night , because he had become a member of the Astros.

Eovaldi shrugged off the surprise and disappointment of Vázquez’s trade and got off to a solid start for the Red Sox with a 3-2 win over the Astros.

“He means a lot to us,” Eovaldi said of Vázquez, the longest-serving player on the team. “It’s one of those friendships that will never go away, even though he’s not with us now. But it’s definitely difficult to say goodbye to him.”

Jarren Duran hit a homer and drove three career-high RBIs as the Red Sox overcame sloppy fielding early to claim the win on a day when the Astros made two key trades.

Along with Vázquez, Houston acquired first baseman Trey Mancini from the Baltimore Orioles in a three-team trade on the eve of the deadline.

“We’re bringing in a bunch of quality guys, one who was in the playoffs and one who wants to make the playoffs,” manager Dusty Baker said. “Both are good players, I’ve heard both are excellent teammates and veterans who can help our ball club…both have won a few games overall and I hope they’re happy about the trade.”

Vázquez was in the Red Sox’s lineup before being scratched minutes before the game. Now, with a move to the other clubhouse at Minute Maid Park, he’ll look to help the Astros make another deep playoff push.

“When the news came and it was true, it was sad,” Eovaldi said. “But at the same time you’re preparing to go out and get your work done.”

Vázquez spoke briefly to reporters before being taken away by a Red Sox public relations officer before the trade was announced, but did not speak to the media after the game.

When asked how he felt about being sold to the Astros, he said, “It’s a deal.”

Eovaldi (5-3) allowed four hits and no earned runs with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to earn his first win since June 8.

Houston led 2-1 after scoring twice from errors in the third inning.

The Red Sox were still a run behind when Bobby Dalbec left to start the fifth. There were two outs in the inning as Duran hit his second homer of the season into the right field seats to make it 3-2.

Duran, 25, put the Red Sox on the board in the third inning when he drove in a run with a ground-rule double.

Houston starter Luis Garcia (8-7) had six hits and three carries in seven innings for his second straight loss.

“He was good except for Duran,” Baker said. “Similar to what we did in Oakland last week where Tony Kemp killed us. He rode in all the races tonight. That was the difference in the game.”

Martín Maldonado grabbed a win in seventh place to chase Eovaldi. He was replaced by John Schreiber, and Jose Altuve landed in a double play to end the inning.

Tanner Houck scored a scoreless ninth on his seventh save.

The Astros went 1 for 8 with runners in goal position while playing without third baseman Alex Bregman, who was put on the paternity list Monday after his wife Reagan went into labor with their first child.

Dalbec doubled to open the third and scored from Duran’s ground rule to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

Altuve reached Christian Arroyo with no outs at the end of the inning after a mistake by third baseman Christian. Yuli Gurriel then earned an outfield choice through shortstop Xander Bogaerts, and Gurriel finished second and Altuve finished third due to an error by Bogaerts in the game.

The Astros equalized when Altuve scored on a sacrificial fly from Yordan Alvarez. A brace from Aledmys Díaz sent Gurriel home and gave Houston a 2-1 lead.

TRAINING ROOM

Red Sox: LHP Rich Hill (sprained left knee) was activated from the 15-day injured list on Monday, but the team hasn’t said when he will make his next start.

Astros: RHP Lance McCullers will make his third rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land Tuesday night. McCullers, who has been out all season with a forearm strain, threw 52 pitches in three innings in his last start and is expected to pitch longer Tuesday. … INF Taylor Jones was recalled from Sugar Land to take Bregman’s spot on the roster.

NEXT

Houston’s Cristian Javier (6-6, 3.26 ERA) gets the better of Kutter Crawford (2-3, 4.15) when the series resumes Tuesday night.