HOUSTON -- Alex Bregman continues to be in Home Run Derby form.
Bregman clubbed his career-high 20th homer of the season in the first inning of Friday's game against the Tigers, taking former Astros teammates Mike Fiers deep to left-center field, to lead the Astros to a 3-0 win Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Bregman is hitting .321 with 15 homers and 40 RBIS in his last 38 games, including 12 homers in his past 27 games and seven in his last 12.
"I've been just getting an approach and sticking to it and trying to get a good pitch to hit," Bregman said.
The All-Star, who will participate in Monday's T-Mobile Home Run Derby prior to representing the club in Tuesday's All-Star Game presented by MasterCard, now leads the Astros in homers (20), doubles (30), RBIs (63), total bases (197) and OPS (.923).
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"His at-bat quality -- I've said this before -- has grown and he's maturing and getting better and he understands what he's looking for," Astros manager AJ Hinch said. "When he has two strikes [in the first inning Friday], he has two wasteful pitches below the zone and he doesn't offer at it. He gets himself a good pitch to hit and does damage. His at-bat quality along with his extra-base hits, he's incredibly locked into the strike zone right now."