Dubón shines against former team as Astros beat Giants 7-3

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This article was published 01/05/2023 (922 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HOUSTON (AP) — Mauricio Dubón had three hits, highlighted by a tiebreaking RBI double in a five-run seventh inning, and the Houston Astros beat the San Francisco Giants 7-3 on Monday night.

The game was tied at 2-2 with one on and one out when Dubón, who played for the Giants from 2019 until last May, smacked his double to right field off Sean Hjelle (1-1).

“It was a big night for Dubón,” manager Dusty Baker said.

Dubón showed a lot of emotion after reaching second base, screaming and jumping around.

“I was not treated the right way over there,” he said. “So coming here and being a family here and being able to perform the way I’m performing right now, I just think the human side of me comes out.”

Dubón was asked how he was treated by the Giants.

“Just a couple of stuff over there that you think, (I could) probably get more playing time,” he said. “But with Dusty here now … I’m in heaven,” he said.

Alex Bregman followed with an RBI single. He later scored on a groundout by José Abreu. Jeremy Peña and Corey Julks added run-scoring singles.

Houston’s offensive outburst came after the team saw its starter leave with an injury for a second straight game. Right-hander Luis García was lifted after just eight pitches with discomfort in his throwing elbow.

Baker said García would have an MRI Tuesday. García said his elbow started hurting on his fifth pitch, and after the eighth he realized he needed to leave the game.

His exit came a night after Jose Urquidy left in the sixth inning with a right shoulder injury. Urquidy was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday. Baker said after the game that Urquidy has inflammation in his shoulder and would be shut down indefinitely.

Ryne Stanek (2-1), the fourth of six Houston pitchers, worked a scoreless seventh.

Joc Pederson had a two-run homer and LaMonte Wade Jr. added a solo shot for the Giants, who lost their fourth straight, including both games in a weekend series in Mexico City against the Padres.

Pederson, who considers Dubón a friend, said he’s happy to see him having such a good season.

“Obviously he didn’t get as many opportunities here, so I’m sure there’s some built up frustration that he had and that is turning into fuel, I guess you could say,” he said. “You’ve got to tip your hat to him, he was unbelievable. I mean, he basically singlehandedly beat us today.”

García allowed a leadoff single to Wade and had thrown six pitches to Thairo Estrada when he stopped and motioned for catcher Martín Maldonado to come to the mound.

Maldonado spoke to García before signaling for a trainer. He and Baker came to the mound and spoke with the right-hander for a couple of minutes before escorting him off the field.

García looked to be in pain and shook his right arm a bit as he walked off the field.

Right-hander Brandon Bielak — recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to take Urquidy’s roster spot — took over after García’s exit with the count at 2-2 on Estrada and struck him out.

Dubón singled to start Houston’s first and stole second base with two outs. Abreu singled on a grounder to center to score Dubón and put Houston up 1-0.

Bielak walked Wade with one out in the third and Pederson connected on his third homer this season with two outs. The shot, to the second deck in right field, put San Francisco up 2-1.

There were two outs in the fifth when Jake Meyers got things going with a single. Maldonado followed with a single on a grounder that was deflected by Estrada.

Dubón then lined a single to center to score Meyers and tie it at 2-2.

San Francisco starter Ross Stripling allowed five hits and two runs with five strikeouts in five innings.

Bielak allowed two hits and two runs with three walks in four innings.

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Giants: SS Brandon Crawford and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski were placed on the 10-day injured list. Crawford, who has a strained right calf, was injured in the fourth inning of San Francisco’s 16-11 loss to San Diego Saturday night in Mexico City. His stint on the IL is retroactive to Sunday. Yastrzemski was shelved with a left hamstring strain. He was injured in Sunday’s 6-4 loss to the Padres while diving to try and catch a ball hit by Matt Carpenter in the eighth inning. The Giants recalled outfielders Cal Stevenson and Brett Wisely from Triple-A Sacramento.

UP NEXT

Houston rookie Hunter Brown (3-0, 2.37 ERA) opposes Anthony DeSclafani (2-1, 2.70) when the series continues Tuesday night.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports