Alvarez hits 2 3-run homers to back strong start by Valdez as Astros rout Arizona 8-0

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez hit two three-run homers and Framber Valdez pitched seven innings in the Houston Astros' 8-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

The AL West leaders got back on track after being swept in a three-game series at Cincinnati.

Houston led by a run when Alvarez, whose six RBIs are a season high, connected off Brandon Pfaadt (9-8) in the fifth inning to make it 4-0. Jose Altuve hit an RBI single in the sixth, and Alvarez homered again in his next at-bat, this time to the bullpen in right-center off Jordan Montgomery, to extend it to 8-0.

“It’s not that easy y'all,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “But this guy is so good he makes it look (easy).”

Alvarez had his seventh multi-homer game to tie Chris Carter (2014) for the most in a season in franchise history. It’s his second this week after also slugging two in a win over Kansas City at home Sunday after he hadn’t homered at Minute Maid Park since June 22.

“Alvarez is doing it at a high level and there’s no mystery,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s a very powerful hitter. He’s a very smart hitter and we just made some mistakes. We went to certain spots too many times and we suffered the consequences.”

Valdez (14-6) allowed just two singles and struck out seven after pitching seven innings of no-hit ball in his last start.

Altuve and Mauricio Dubón had three hits each and Kyle Tucker walked and was hit by a pitch in his return after sitting out since fracturing his right shin on a foul ball June 3.

“I felt pretty normal,” said Tucker, who did not go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. “There are a few things, I've got to make a few adjustments just in terms of being live in a game. But I do a pretty good job at making adjustments pretty quick.”

Arizona All-Star Ketel Marte went 0 for 3 with a walk in his return from a sprained left ankle that had kept him out since Aug. 18.

Geraldo Perdomo singled to start the third for Arizona’s first hit and Christian Walker walked with one out in the fourth. Valdez then retired the next eight batters before walking Walker again to start the seventh.

Eugenio Suárez singled and Valdez retired Jake McCarthy before Kevin Newman grounded into a double play to end the inning and the night for the left-hander.

Jon Singleton hit a single to start Houston’s second but was thrown out at home on a double by Ben Gamel. Gamel was on third with two outs when Dubón singled to left field to send him home and put the Astros up 1-0.

Dubón and Altuve hit consecutive ground ball singles with not outs in the fifth before Alvarez smacked his 407-foot home run to the back of the second deck in right field to make it 4-0.

Alvarez stood at the plate and watched ball sail away before tossing his bat and trotting to first base.

Pfaadt walked Yainer Diaz before he struck out Tucker for the first out. Catcher Jose Herrera left the game after Tucker struck him on top of the helmet on his follow-through on the strikeout.

Herrera — getting more playing time with starter Gabriel Moreno sidelined by a groin injury — was helped off the field after a few minutes and replaced by Adrian Del Castillo.

Lovullo said that Herrera was OK and that he'd return to the lineup Saturday.

Pfaadt permitted eight hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Diamondbacks: OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (left calf tightness) has yet to resume baseball activities, Lovullo said Friday. He is expected to return by the middle of September.

Astros: 3B Alex Bregman was out of the lineup Friday after playing Thursday as he continues to deal with swelling in his right elbow.

Houston LHP Yusei Kikuchi (7-9, 4.24 ERA) opposes LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-1, 5.33) when the series continues Saturday.

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

Umpire Mark Ripperger (90) reaches for Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, center, who was hit in the head on the backswing by Houston Astros designated hitter Kyle Tucker, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, center, is tended to by trainers after being hit in the head on the back swing by Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. Herrera left the game after the incident. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Ketel Marte steps up for his first at-bat after coming off an injury against the Houston Astros on his return during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jose Altuve, left, and Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrate after they scored on Alvarez's second three-run home run of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) flips his bat as he watches his three-run home run in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

LONDON (AP) — Former BBC news anchor Huw Edwards, once one of the most prominent media figures in Britain, was given a suspended prison sentence Monday for images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

Edwards, 63, pleaded guilty in Westminster Magistrates’ Court in July to three counts of making indecent images of children, a charge related to photos sent to him on the WhatsApp messaging service by a man convicted of distributing images of child sex abuse.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring sentenced Edwards to a six-month prison term suspended for two years. He will be listed on a sex offenders register for seven years.

“It is not an exaggeration to say your long-earned reputation is in tatters,” Goldspring said.

Edwards' fall from grace over the past year has caused turmoil for the BBC after it was revealed the publicly funded broadcaster paid him about 200,000 pounds ($263,000) for five months of his salary after he had been arrested in November while on leave. The BBC has asked him to pay it back.

“We are appalled by his crimes,” the BBC said in a statement after the sentencing. “He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.”

Edwards had been one of the BBC’s top earners when he was suspended in July 2023 over separate claims made last year involving a teenager he allegedly paid for sexually explicit photos. Police investigated and decided not to bring charges.

Although Edwards was not publicly named at the time those allegations surfaced, his wife later revealed he was the news presenter investigated and said he was hospitalized for serious mental health issues.

He never returned to the air but the BBC kept him on the payroll until he resigned in April for health reasons.

Edwards began his BBC career in Wales four decades ago. He went on to become lead anchor on the nighttime news for two decades and led the coverage of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 as well as election coverage.

The BBC said at the time of his guilty plea that it was shocked to hear the details of the charges against him.

More than 375 sexual images were sent to him on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021. More than 40 were indecent images of children, including seven classified as “category A” — the most indecent — with children estimated to be between 13 and 15. One child was aged between 7 and 9.

In chats with Alex Williams, who was later convicted of distributing child sex abuse images, Edwards was asked if he wanted sexual images of a person whose “age could be discerned as being between 14 and 16,” and Edwards replied, “yes xxx,” prosecutor Ian Hope said.

“From that chat in December 2020, Alex Williams said that he had ‘a file of vids and pics for you of someone special,’” Hope said.

Edwards asked who the subject and was then sent three images that appeared to be the same person who appeared to be aged 14 to 16, Hope said.

Williams later sent Edwards a video in February 2021 that involved two children, one possibly as young as seven and the other no older than 13, involving penetration, Hope said.

Edwards did not respond, but when asked by Williams if the material was too young, he said, “don’t send underage.” He also said he didn’t want him to send anything illegal.

Defense lawyer Philip Evans said Edwards was “truly sorry” for the offenses and the damage he had done to his family.

“He apologizes sincerely and he makes it clear that he has the utmost regret and he recognizes that he has betrayed the priceless trust and faith of so many people,” Evans said.

Evans said Williams had reached out to Edwards on Instagram at a time when he was mentally vulnerable and began sending him images. He said Edwards never received gratification from the images and hadn’t saved them or sent them to anyone.

Hope said Edwards paid Williams “not insignificant sums of money,” as gifts that Williams used while studying at a university.

At one point, Williams asked for a “Christmas gift after all the hot videos” he had sent. Edwards remarked that some of the images were “amazing,” Hope said.

Williams, 25, was given a suspended 1-year sentence in March for possessing and distributing indecent images as well as possessing prohibited images of children.

Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

A small number of protesters wait for Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter to arrive at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

A small number of protesters wait for Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter to arrive at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Huw Edwards an ex-BBC news presenter arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in London, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)