Boston Manager Alex Cora talks with umpire Pat Hoberg after Hoberg ejected Alex Verdugo in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros on Tuesday in Houston. Cora was ejected in the seventh inning. Michael Wyke/Associated Press
HOUSTON — Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer and Justin Verlander threw six scoreless innings to help the Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 7-3 on Tuesday night.
Boston Manager Alex Cora and right fielder Alex Verdugo were both ejected for arguing balls and strikes as the Red Sox lost a second straight game at Houston. Verdugo was ejected in the top of the fourth by plate umpire Pat Hoberg, who also tossed Cora after the manager objected to the call of ball four to Alex Bregman in bottom of the seventh.
It was the second ejection in three games for Cora, who stood at the plate and kicked dirt before yelling in Hoberg’s face after he was tossed.
Verlander (9-6) allowed five hits and struck out a season-high nine in his fourth start since returning to the Astros in a trade with the Mets.
There was one out in the first when Tucker connected off Tanner Houck (3-7) for his team-leading 25th home run this season to make it 2-0.
Houck allowed four hits and three runs in five innings in his first start since June 16, when he sustained a facial fracture after being hit by a line drive.
Martín Maldonado drove in a run in the fourth for Houston. Jon Singleton doubled twice and had two RBI in a four-run seventh that made it 7-0.
The Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth and had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh but came away empty both times on a night they went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Adam Duvall, who had a three-run shot Monday night, hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to cut the lead to 7-1. The Red Sox have at least one home run in 11 straight games, which is their longest streak since a 19-game stretch in 2019.
Justin Turner drove in two runs for Boston with a single in the ninth.
Masataka Yoshida singled to start the fourth. Duvall was batting after that when Verdugo was ejected for yelling at Hoberg from the dugout.
Wilyer Abreu made his major league debut when he replaced Verdugo in right field in the bottom of the inning.
Mauricio Dubón singled leading off the fourth and Jeremy Peña walked with one out. Maldonado then hit a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line.
Catcher Connor Wong grabbed it and threw to first in time to beat Maldonado there. But the throw from Triston Casas to Rafael Devers, who was racing to cover home, wasn’t nearly in time to catch Dubón before he crossed the plate to make it 3-0.
Duvall doubled with two outs in the sixth before Verlander plunked Casas. The Red Sox loaded the bases when Trevor Story reached on an error by second baseman Jose Altuve.
Verlander retired Luis Arias on a fly ball on the next pitch to escape the jam.
Houston played without Yordan Alvarez, who was scratched after slamming his hand in a door at home and injuring his left index finger. Manager Dusty Baker said the injury wasn’t serious, but that the finger was sore.
NOTES: OF Jarren Duran was placed on the 10-day injured list with a bruised left toe. Abreu was called up from Triple-A Worcester to take his spot on the roster. … LHP Chris Murphy was optioned to Worcester to make room for Houck.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
