Ronel Blanco strikes out 8 in 6 innings as Astros beat Giants 3-1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ronel Blanco had eight strikeouts in six innings, Mauricio Dubon scored twice and the Houston Astros beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Blanco (6-2) allowed one run on three hits and became the first pitcher in Astros history to go undefeated in his first nine career road starts, improving to 6-0 away from home. His eight strikeouts tied a season high.

The right-hander said his fastball, slider and changeup were all working — but he went to his fastball more often than his off-speed pitches and caught some of the Giants batters off guard.

“We needed a good outing from Blanco, and he gave us that,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.

Houston took a 3-1 lead in the fifth when two runs scored on an RBI infield single by Alex Bregman. With two outs and runners on second and third, Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman grabbed Bregman’s softly hit ball with a bare hand but threw wide of first for an error, allowing both runners to score.

Espada credited his team for putting the ball in play in RBI situations, with all its runs scoring on balls that didn't leave the infield.

“Anything can happen when you put the ball in play, and we did that there with two outs,” Espada said. “You don’t see Chapman throwing many balls away, but we were fortunate enough that he threw one away.”

Ryan Pressly earned his second save of the season, striking out two in the ninth. Houston held the Giants to three hits, their season low.

The Astros, who won their fourth game this season when scoring three or fewer runs, can pick up their third consecutive series win with a victory on Wednesday.

Houston responded after blowing a 3-1 lead in the 10th inning on Monday to the Giants.

“It's easy just to let that loss from last night just linger and drag you to game two, but this group just bounces back,” Espada said.

Both teams scored a run in the third. Dubon came home on Jose Altuve's groundout after hitting a leadoff double, and Brett Wisely homered for the Giants. Dubon, who played for San Francisco from 2019-22, went 2 for 3 with two doubles.

“I think the quality of the at-bats have been good with runners in scoring position,” Bregman said. “Obviously, early in the year we weren’t as good, but we’re starting to play a lot better offensively — how we normally do.”

San Francisco starter Jordan Hicks (4-3) allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. Giants manager Bob Melvin said Hicks has been sick for the past few days and pitched well considering the circumstances.

“I think based on what he was dealing with today, the line doesn’t look great (but) I thought he pitched pretty well,” Melvin said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: C Yainer Diaz is still dealing with a sore right index finger after getting hit by a foul ball Sunday. Houston recalled César Salazar from Triple-A Sugar Land for catching depth while Victor Caratini continues to start. OF Joey Loperfido was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. … OF Kyle Tucker, on the injured list with a bruised right shin, is improving and was doing exercises in the weight room before the game.

Giants: Chapman returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore hamstring. … RHP Alex Cobb (shoulder) felt “great” after throwing a bullpen of 20-25 pitches, Melvin. … LHP Blake Snell (left groin strain) will throw off a mound Wednesday. … SS Marco Luciano (right hamstring strain) is close to beginning a rehab assignment.

UP NEXT

RHP Logan Webb (5-5, 2.92 ERA) pitches for the Giants against LHP Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.53) in the series finale Wednesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Francisco Giants' Brett Wisely, right, is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón, right, is congratulated by Yordan Alvarez (44) after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks, left, walks off the mound after being taken out for a relief pitcher by manager Bob Melvin, right, during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Houston Astros in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón reacts after hitting a double against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco reacts after striking out San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman to end the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco reacts after striking out San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman to end the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, left, celebrates with second baseman Jose Altuve after the Astros defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman hits an RBI single in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Another run scored on a throwing error by third baseman Matt Chapman. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman (2) runs to first base on an RBI single as San Francisco Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores, left, cannot catch a throw by third baseman Matt Chapman, who was charged with an error, which allowed a second run to score during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is safe following what the FBI says "appears to be an attempted assassination” while playing golf two months after another attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Local authorities said the U.S. Secret Service agents protecting Trump fired at a man pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope as Trump was playing on one of his Florida golf courses in West Palm Beach.

Here are five things to know about what happened Sunday to the Republican presidential nominee.

Law enforcement officials said the man who pointed the rifle and was arrested is Ryan Wesley Routh. The officials identified the suspect to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Records show Routh, 58, lived in North Carolina for most of his life before moving in 2018 to Kaaawa, Hawaii, where he and his son operated a company building sheds, according to an archived version of the webpage for the business.

Routh frequently posted on social media about the war in Ukraine and had a website where he sought to raise money and recruit volunteers to go to Kyiv to join the fight against the Russian invasion. In June 2020, he made a post on X directed at then-President Trump to say he would win reelection if he issued an executive order for the Justice Department to prosecute police misconduct. That year, he also posted in support of the Democratic presidential campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has since left the party and endorsed Trump.

However, in recent years, his posts suggest he soured on Trump, and he expressed support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

In July, following the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, Routh urged Biden and Harris to visit those wounded in the shooting at the hospital and to attend the funeral of a former fire chief killed at the rally.

Voter records show he registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina in 2012, most recently voting in person during the state’s Democratic Party primary in March 2024. Federal campaign finance records show Routh made 19 small political donations totaling $140 since 2019 using his Hawaii address to ActBlue, a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates.

Records show that while living in Greensboro, North Carolina, Routh had multiple run-ins with law enforcement. He was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, according to online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records.

The records do not provide details about the case. But a News & Record story from 2002 says a man with the same name was arrested after a three-hour standoff with police. The story says he was pulled over during a traffic stop, put his hand on a gun and barricaded himself inside a roofing business. He owned the roofing company, according to state incorporation filings.

Local authorities said the gunman was about 400 yards to 500 yards away from Trump and hiding in shrubbery while the former president was playing a round of golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

Ric Bradshaw, sheriff of Palm Beach County, said that when people get into the shrubbery around the course, “they’re pretty much out of sight.” Bradshaw said the entire golf course would have been lined with law enforcement if Trump were the sitting president, but because he’s not, “security is limited to the areas the Secret Service deems possible.”

Trump’s protective detail has been higher than some of his peers because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again. His security was bolstered days before the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania because of a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, U.S. officials said.

In an email to supporters, Trump said: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”

His running mate, JD Vance, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said they spoke with Trump after the incident, and both said he was in “good spirits.”

Late Sunday, Trump posted a message on social media thanking the Secret Service and law enforcement for keeping him safe, calling them “brave and dedicated Patriots,” adding that it was “certainly an interesting day!”

He was to be briefed in person Monday by acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe about the investigation into the assassination attempt, according to a person familiar with the plan for the briefing who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president's, said on air that he spoke with Trump and his golf partner, Steve Witkoff. They told Hannity they had been on the fifth hole when they heard a “pop pop, pop pop.” Within seconds, he said Witkoff recounted, Secret Service agents “pounced on” Trump and “covered him” to protect him.

Moments later, Witkoff said, a “fast cart” with steel reinforcement and other protection was able to whisk Trump away.

Hannity said Trump’s reaction after this happened — and when it was clear that everyone, including Witkoff, was safe — was to quip that he was sad he hadn’t been able to finish the hole since he “was even and had a birdie putt.”

Harris, Trump's Democratic opponent in the presidential election, posted on X that she had been briefed on the reports of gunshots fired.

“I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”

The White House said President Joe Biden and Harris would be kept updated on the investigation. The White House added it was “relieved” to know Trump is safe.

Trump has not announced any changes to his schedule and is set to speak live on X on Monday night from his Mar-a-Lago resort to launch his sons’ crypto platform.

Meanwhile, the leaders of a congressional bipartisan task force investigating the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump said they have requested a briefing by the Secret Service.

“We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in a statement. They said the task force will share updates.

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat who is part of the task force, said he “will seek answers about what happened today and then.”

Ryan Wesley Routh holds up a banner during a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko)

Photos that show an AK-47 rifle, a backpack and a Go-Pro camera on a fence outside Trump International Golf Club taken after an apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, are displayed during a news conference at the Palm Beach County Main Library, Sunday. Sept. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephany Matat)

This photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows Sheriff's vehicles surrounding an SUV on the northbound I-95 in Martin County on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)