The Houston Astros clobbered Mike Pelfrey and beat up on the Twins 8-0 Friday night in Houston.
Pelfrey (6-9) lasted just four innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits, striking out five without a walk.
The Astros took the early lead, after George Springer returned from the disabled list by leading off the game with a base hit. He came around to score when Carlos Correa grounded out, giving the Astros a 1-0 lead after the first.
Houston tacked on two more in the second thanks to a two-run shot from Colby Rasmus.
Things went from bad to worse for Pelfrey and the Twins. The Astros loaded the bases with no one out in the fourth inning. Pelfrey struck out Rasmus and Luis Valbuena, but then Hank Conger hit a grand slam to make it 7-0.
Mike Pelfrey has a 5.76 ERA in his last 15 starts, allowing a .330 opponents' batting average and 57 total runs in 79 innings.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) September 5, 2015
Meanwhile Astros pitcher Collin McHugh scattered seven hits through 7 2/3 innings. He didn’t allow a run and struck out six.
Joe Mauer was the only Twins player with more than one hit, finishing 2-for-4 with a double in the contest. Trevor Plouffe also doubled.
Final: #Astros 8, #MNTwins 0: Pelfrey allows 7 ER over 4 IP. Twins shut out for first time since July 21. Two games back of Texas for AL WC.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) September 5, 2015
The Twins will hope to put an end to their two-game skid on Saturday when they send Ervin Santana (3-4) to the mound against Astros starter Lance McCullers.
