Bello, Jansen combine for 2-hit shoutout and Red Sox beat Blue Jays 3-0

BOSTON (AP) — Brayan Bello delivered the longest outing of his career, pitching eight innings of two-hit ball on Wednesday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bello (12-6) struck out nine and walked one. Boston improved to 6-1 in his last seven starts, but it was just his second victory in eight starts since the All-Star break. The 25-year-old righty had only pitched into the eighth inning once in his career previously, and he had never recorded more than 24 outs.

“I definitely think that was one of my better starts in the big leagues, in all phases,” said Bello, who pitched most of the game with a 1-0 lead. “I love those games, mostly just because when the score is like that, you have to stay focused. You have to focus on executing every single pitch. I really enjoyed it."

Bello had a 6.96 ERA in seven previous starts against Toronto.

“His best outing in the big leagues, against a team that has given him trouble,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He was locked in. He was excited, but not too excited. He was very level, stay in the moment. And gave us a much-needed outing, where we were bullpen-wise.”

Tyler O'Neill homered, Masataka Yoshida had a three hits, and Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save. Bello smiled and laughed when asked if could have gone and finished things, but Cora said “there was no discussion” of sending his starter out for the ninth.

Boston has beaten Toronto in two straight after being swept in (most of) a doubleheader on Monday. The Red Sox entered the day four games behind Minnesota for the final AL wild-card berth.

“We’re in the middle of trying to get into the playoffs right now," Bello said. “So I really wanted to win this game, so that we can keep moving forward like we have been.”

Chris Bassitt (9-13) allowed one run on five hits and a walk, striking out nine before leaving with two outs in the seventh inning down just 1-0. O’Neill hit a two-run homer off reliever Brendon Little in the eighth to make it 3-0.

Jarren Duran singled to lead off the game, took second on a groundout and scored on Wilyer Abreu’s single to give Boston the lead. Bassitt gave up back-to-back singles to Yoshida and Connor Wong to start the bottom of the seventh – Yoshida’s sinking liner was challenged, but replays showed it short-hopped into the glove of diving center fielder Daulton Varsho.

Bassitt got Romy Gonzalez when his bunt attempt popped up to the catcher, and then Ceddanne Rafaela struck out. With the top of the order up next, Little relieved Bassitt and got Duran to fly out to center.

So it was still 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth when David Hamilton reached on catcher Alejandro Kirk’s error, and O’Neill hit the next pitch over the Green Monster.

“Every pitch tonight meant something, until the end," Cora said. “It was a 1-0 game, and Hammy gets on, and one pitch and all of the sudden we can breathe."

TRAINING ROOM

Hamilton injured a finger when he tried to bunt. He left the game in the top of the ninth but Cora had no further information.

UP NEXT

Toronto RHP Bowden Francis (7-3) will face Boston’s Kutter Crawford (8-11) in the series finale Thursday.

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

Boston Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill celebrates while rounding the bases on his two-run home run in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill, right, is congratulated by Jarren Duran (16) after his two-run home run in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Kenley Jansen celebrates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 following a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Kenley Jansen, right, is congratulated by catcher Connor Wong after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 following a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello, left, is congratulated by Ceddanne Rafaela after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 following a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, left, beats the throw to Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk to score on a single by Wilyer Abreu during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida singles during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox shortstop David Hamilton, left, forces out Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger on a double play ball hit by Alejandro Kirk during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello celebrates after Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger grounded out to end the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi pitched seven innings of three-hit ball in another sharp start, and Yordan Alvarez homered and drove in two runs in the Houston Astros ' 5,000th victory, 5-3 over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Kikuchi (9-9) overcame early trouble and struck out six Angels while keeping the Astros unbeaten in all of his starts since joining Houston in a trade with Toronto. Houston gave up three prospects for Kikuchi, who is grateful to general manager Dana Brown for believing in him.

“I heard a lot of what fans had to say” about the trade, Kikuchi said through an interpreter. “But I think our GM made an awesome decision. I just wanted to prove to everybody what I'm capable of. ... I wasn't pitching that well in Toronto just before the deadline, so I was shocked a little bit. But once I got here, I was able to put the past behind me.”

Kikuchi is 5-0 in an Astros uniform, and Houston is 8-0 when he takes the mound. He's a big reason the Astros are rolling toward yet another AL West title after struggling early in the season. Kikuchi and two relievers combined to hold Los Angeles to three hits.

“He's been really good,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “We knew that it was in there. I'm just glad that he's been receptive and been able to be open about the adjustments we wanted him to make, and pitch usage and stuff like that. But the arm has always been there. It just feels like he's been here for many, many years. I hope he just keeps going.”

Alex Bregman hit an early two-run homer and Alvarez added his 33rd in the ninth inning for the first-place Astros, who opened a six-game Southern California trip with their second straight win after a three-game skid.

Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 30th save as the Astros became the 18th big league club to reach 5,000 victories.

Mickey Moniak homered for the Angels, who have lost five of six.

Rookie Samuel Aldegheri (1-2) couldn’t get out of the third inning in his third major league start for the Angels, yielding four runs on six hits and five walks while recording only six outs.

“Just couldn't find his command,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “Couldn't hit his spots. Couldn't throw any pitch with consistency. That's not him.”

Houston scored twice in the second with two singles followed by two walks and Alvarez's sacrifice fly.

The Astros then got three hits on Aldegheri's first three pitches in the third inning. After Kyle Tucker singled, Bregman hit his 23rd homer and Jeremy Peña doubled.

Kikuchi issued back-to-back walks to begin the third, and Los Angeles scored on Zach Neto's groundout and Nolan Schanuel's single.

Moniak's solo shot to right in the fourth was just his second career homer against a left-hander. It was also the former No. 1 overall pick's 14th homer of the season, matching his career high.

Alvarez's homer was a line drive that went in and out of Moniak's glove when the center fielder leaped at the wall to attempt what would have been a spectacular catch. The homer was Alvarez's fifth in September.

Hader recorded 30 saves for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in his career.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: INF Jose Altuve returned from a one-game absence with discomfort in his right side. He drove the first pitch of the game into left field, but was easily thrown out at second while trying to stretch it into a double.

Angels: 2B Brandon Drury sat out after leaving Wednesday's game in the fifth inning with hamstring tightness. ... RHP Ben Joyce is still awaiting the results of his MRI exam Thursday. The 105-mph hurler hasn't pitched since Sept. 6 after reporting shoulder discomfort.

UP NEXT

Justin Verlander (3-6, 5.30 ERA) takes the mound for Houston after struggling in his past two starts in September. Los Angeles sends out All-Star Tyler Anderson (10-12, 3.50 ERA), who beat the Astros earlier this year for his only victory in nine career starts against them.

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

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Samuel Aldegheri throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Kyle Tucker also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros' Mauricio Dubón (14) bunt pops out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Angels' Mickey Moniak celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Angels' Jack López (10) scores as a throw gets past Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini, left, during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)