Astros outlast Twins 13-12 after nearly blowing 8-run lead in 9th inning

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alex Bregman had a three-run homer and the Houston Astros held off the Minnesota Twins 13-12 on Friday night after taking an eight-run lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Jeremy Peña had three hits, scored three times and drove in three runs to help the Astros win for the 13th time in 15 games. They are a major league-best 21-9 since June 1.

Down 13-5 after Houston scored three times in the ninth, the Twins fell just short with a seven-run outburst. Josh Hader came on with two outs and gave up a grand slam to Carlos Correa before striking out Manuel Margot for his 15th save.

"Sometimes it’s not the way you draw it up, but you’ve got to be resilient and you’ve got to find a way, and our boys find a way,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.

Twins designated hitter Jose Miranda went 4 for 4, setting a team record with 10 straight hits. Hall of Famer Tony Oliva set the previous record in 1967 and it was matched by Mickey Hatcher in 1985 and Todd Walker in 1998.

“You break a Hall of Famer’s record, it’s something pretty cool, I think,” Miranda said.

The Twins pinch hit for Miranda in the ninth, so his streak remains active at 10.

Astros starter Shawn Dubin gave up three earned runs over 2 2/3 innings. It was Dubin’s second start after 14 relief appearances as the Astros – who have five starting pitchers on the IL – hope Dubin can stretch out and become a full-fledged member of the starting rotation.

Six relievers combined to finish out the game, with Bryan King (1-0) picking up his first career victory.

Twins starter Pablo López (8-7) gave up six earned runs in five-plus innings, pushing his ERA to 5.18.

Houston strung together four singles to score three runs in the top of the second, but the Twins got two back and almost more in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and a run in, Dubin walked Willi Castro to make it 3-2.

He then fell behind Correa 3-0, but after taking a strike, Correa lofted a flyball into short right field. Jose Altuve – Correa’s former teammate – sprinted across the outfield grass and made a sliding catch, saving at least two runs.

“I’m going to punch him tomorrow when I see him,” Correa said. "I said, ‘What’s going on?’ He’s like, ‘I’m sorry, I have to make the play.’

“I was honestly looking at the right fielder and then I saw he didn’t have a chance. I was getting my hopes up and then (Altve) comes out of nowhere and makes that crazy play. That was cool..”

Miranda hit a solo homer in the third inning, tying it and extending the Twins’ record to 23 straight games with a home run.

In the fifth, Miranda's RBI double off King gave the Twins their first lead. But it didn't last long. The Astros knocked López out of the game with three straight hits leading off the sixth. Peña’s second RBI single of the game tied the score, and Joey Loperfido’s looping double down the right field line off reliever Jorge Alcala gave Houston a 6-4 lead.

Houston tacked on four runs off reliever Josh Winder over the next two innings and added three more on Bregman's homer off Kody Funderburk in the ninth.

“Up and down the lineup, we put together great at-bats all game long,” Bregman said. "They’ve got a good pitching staff over there and we’re fortunate enough to score enough. Obviously, they’re not always pretty, but a win’s a win and we’ll build off that tomorrow.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Altuve left the game in the top of the eighth after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch from Winder.

UP NEXT

Houston RHP Hunter Brown (6-5, 4.07 ERA) was set to race RHP Joe Ryan (5-5, 3.21) on Saturday.

Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. Willi Castro, Christian Vazquez and Brooks Lee also scored on the hit. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, right, throws out Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena out at first during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Twins' Jose Miranda, right, celebrates with third base coach Tommy Watkins, left, after hitting a home run off Houston Astros starting pitcher Shawn Dubin during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Houston Astros' Jonathan Singleton (28) celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single hit by Cesar Salazar off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Shawn Dubin throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, left, catches a fly ball hit by Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa as right fielder Joey Loperfido, right, watches during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Houston Astros' Cesar Salazar (18) hits an RBI single, scoring Jonathan Singleton, as Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vazquez (8) looks on during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — One of the Amazon River’s main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level ever recorded, Brazil’s geological service said Friday, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country.

The level of the Negro River at the port of Manaus was at 12.66 meters on Friday, as compared with a normal level of about 21 meters. It is the lowest since measurements started 122 years ago. The previous record low level was recorded last year, but toward the end of October.

The Negro River's water level might drop even more in coming weeks based on forecasts for low rainfall in upstream regions, according to the geological service's predictions. Andre Martinelli, the agency's hydrology manager in Manaus, was quoted as saying the river was expected to continue receding until the end of the month.

Water levels in Brazil’s Amazon always rise and fall with its rainy and dry seasons, but the dry portion of this year has been much worse than usual. All of the major rivers in the Amazon basin are at critical levels, including the Madeira River, the Amazon River’s longest tributary.

The Negro River drains about 10% of the Amazon basin and is the world’s sixth-largest by water volume. Manaus, the biggest city in the rainforest, is where the Negro joins the Amazon River.

For locals, the drought has made basic daily activities impossible. Gracita Barbosa, 28, works as a cashier on a floating shop on the Negro River. She’s out of work because boats that once stopped there can no longer navigate the river due to the low water levels. Barbosa can no longer bathe in the river and now has to travel longer distances to collect drinking water.

Sá Pessoa reported from Sao Paulo.

The earth is exposed along the Negro River at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

Porters carry goods that arrived by boat up stairs on the bank of the Negro River at the port of Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid a severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

The earth is exposed along the Negro River at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

Porters carry goods brought by boat across a dry area of the Negro River at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid a severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

Dock worker Francisco Ferreira Pinheiro reads a meter stick in the Negro River at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid a severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

A boat is grounded in the Negro River at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

A porter carries bananas brought by boat across a dry area of the Negro River at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid a severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

A part of the Negro River is dry at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, amid severe drought. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)