Rockets Rundown
The 2-Man Game: The Rockets need to put iso-ball to the side
Mario Elie and Joel Blank
May 16, 2018, 2:11 pm
Tonight's game is a must-win for the Houston Rockets. Courtesy photo
The Rockets did not get the results they were looking for in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors. They need to make some adjustments before Game 2 and one of those should be limiting the iso-ball. Mike D'Antoni needs to get more players involved in the offense, and that can also lead to guys playing better on the defensive end of the court as well. Also, if the Rockets truly are the deeper team, they have to get more out of their role players. Those guys are going to struggle to do anything if they never touch the ball. Finally, the Rockets need to shake some things up on defense and give the Warriors some different looks.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.