Thuram double helps Inter rout Atalanta and Torino maintains strong start with win at Venezia

MILAN (AP) — Marcus Thuram scored twice and played a starring role as reigning champion Inter Milan went to the top of Serie A after a 4-0 win over Atalanta on Friday.

The result extended Inter’s unbeaten start to the season and tied it at the top with Torino, which beat Venezia 1-0 earlier in the day. Both teams have seven points from three games.

Inter started the match in devastating style with two goals in the first 10 minutes.

The opener was a disaster for Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti. He stretched to stop Thuram’s cross but succeeded only in deflecting the ball past his own goalkeeper.

There was no luck about the second seven minutes later. Nicolò Barella volleyed home a cracker from the edge of the box to give Inter a commanding early lead.

Thuram hit the woodwork before halftime but he deservedly got his name on the scoresheet two minutes into the second half when he seized on a loose ball in the box and poked it home.

Nine minutes later, he got his second with another opportunist goal inside the penalty area.

Earlier, Saul Coco scored with five minutes remaining to give Torino a 1-0 win at Venezia and extend its unbeaten start to the season.

Coco’s glancing header came at the end of a tepid game in which neither side created many clear-cut chances.

It was the central defender’s first Serie A goal since joining Torino from Las Palmas this summer.

Venezia has one point from its first three matches and is second to last on the table. Atalanta is eighth.

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Inter Milan's head coach Simone Inzaghi gestures during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Atalanta at the at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Atalanta's goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi catches there ball during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Atalanta at the at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram reacts after missing a chance to score during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Atalanta at the at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram celebrates scoring his side's 4th goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Atalanta at the at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Atalanta at the at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Torino's Duvan Zapata, left, and Venezia's Antonio Candela in action during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Torino at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium in Venice, Italy, Friday Aug. 30, 2024. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Venezia's Alfred Duncan, left, and Torino's Valentino Lazaro in action during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Torino at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium in Venice, Italy, Friday Aug. 30, 2024. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Venezia's Francesco Zampano, right, and Torino's Saul Coco in action during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Torino at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium in Venice, Italy, Friday Aug. 30, 2024. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Torino's Ivan Ilic, left, and Venezia's Michael Svoboda in action during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Torino at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium in Venice, Italy, Friday Aug. 30, 2024. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

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)