Angels rally to beat Astros 4-1 to even series in Houston
For a second straight night, Houston’s offense struggled to cash in on scoring chances as Los Angeles used a ninth-inning surge to pull away and hand the Astros a 4-1 loss Saturday at Daikin Park, tying the four-game series.
Starting pitches and key offenses
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti worked into the seventh, content to keep the Angels at bay with a strong outing, allowing just one hit—Zach Neto’s solo homer in the third—and one run over 6 1/3 innings while striking out eight. It marked his strongest showing since returning from the injured list.
Angel starter Kyle Hendricks matched him for six innings, permitting one run on seven hits and issuing no walks while striking out two. Hendricks limited the Astros to a single run until Houston finally broke through in the early innings but still left runners on base and failed to generate the big hit they needed.
Neto supplied Los Angeles’ offense with a third-inning homer that gave the Angels a 1-0 lead. The Angels added a run in the eighth after Yainer Diaz’s scoring chance ended with an out on a fielder’s choice and singled in another run in the ninth to pull away.
Ninth-inning rally for the Angels
The decisive inning started with Luis Rengifo, Logan O’Hoppe and Matthew Lugo loading the bases off Bryan Abreu. Oswald Peraza then lined a fly ball into right-field corner that helped two runners score on a misplay by Cam Smith. Abreu walked Mike Trout with the bases loaded to force in the fourth run and chase Abreu from the mound after throwing 28 pitches. Angels closer Kenley Jansen then shut the door in the bottom of the frame to seal the win.
Offensive notes and series context
Houston went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position on the night and stranded seven baserunners in the game. The Astros, who have regained Yordan Alvarez for this homestand, have totaled 12 runs in their first five games against Colorado and Los Angeles, teams that entered the series near the bottom of the majors in runs allowed.
Astros updates and roster note
Houston used Arrighetti for six-plus innings before handing the ball to a bullpen that included Bryan King, Steven Okert and Craig Kimbrel. Abreu suffered the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits in two-plus innings. The Astros also announced a minor-league signing, adding right-hander Matt Bowman to a Triple-A Sugar Land assignment.
Standings and angles
The Astros remain three games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West after Saturday’s results. The Angels, meanwhile, picked up a much-needed win and maintained momentum heading into the final game of this series.
Bottom line
Angels 4, Astros 1. A late-inning rally capped by an Abreu meltdown and a productive ninth for Los Angeles turned a tight game into a decisive win, as Arrighetti’s quality start wasn’t enough to keep the Astros from dropping back-to-back nights.
Quick takeaways
– Arrighetti delivered a strong line in his return from the IL, giving Astros hitters trouble with his breaking stuff and locating pitches well.
– Hendricks continued to provide solid length and limit hard contact, keeping Houston’s offense from getting the big hit they needed.
– The Angels’ ninth-inning rally showcased their patience and timely hitting, turning a one-run game into a secure victory.
Summary
A tight pitchers’ duel gave way to a four-run Angels burst in the ninth, allowing Los Angeles to pull off a 4-1 win and even the series in Houston. The Astros will look to regroup in Sunday’s finale, while the Angels carry momentum from a much-needed victory.