Houston drops the middle game
Angels get best of Garcia, Astros to even series
Sep 11, 2021, 9:55 pm
Despite Yordan Alvarez reaching base four times, Houston's offense couldn't get it done against the Angels on Saturday. Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Despite Yordan Alvarez reaching base four times, Houston's offense couldn't get it done against the Angels on Saturday.
After outslugging the Angels in Friday's opener to start the series with a win, the opportunity stood in front of the Astros again to secure a series victory and set up a potential sweep. The Angels would prevent that, though, by outplaying Houston on Saturday night.
Final Score: Angels 4, Astros 2
Astros' Record: 82-59, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Jose Suarez (7-7)
Losing Pitcher: Luis Garcia (10-7)
Garcia gives up four over five
For the third time in his last five starts, Luis Garcia would allow three or more earned runs while not making it through six innings. The Angels tagged him in the top of the first, getting two runs on three hits, including a one-out RBI double followed by an RBI groundout, putting them ahead 2-0.
After erasing a one-out single in the second, a leadoff single in the top of the third would turn into a one-out two-run homer, doubling Los Angeles' lead to 4-0. Garcia would finish that frame, then posted a 1-2-3 fourth and erased a leadoff walk in the fifth to end his night. His final line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 82 P.
Astros drop the middle game
Houston trimmed the lead to three runs in the bottom of the fourth, getting a one-out single by Jose Siri, who stole second before the Astros would load the bases with one out. Yuli Gurriel scored Siri with an RBI fielder's choice, but the Angels limited the damage there, keeping it 4-1.
Brandon Bielak took over for Luis Garcia in the top of the sixth, stranding two runners to keep it a three-run game. He returned in the top of the seventh, posting a 1-2-3 frame, and kept going in the top of the eighth with another scoreless inning as the score remained 4-1.
After a scoreless top of the ninth by Blake Taylor, Houston started a rally in the bottom half, getting a single and a walk to set up an RBI double by Garrett Stubbs to cut the lead to two runs. That left the tying run on second with one out. The rally would come up short, with both runners ending the night stranded as the Angels would finish the win to set up a rubber game in the finale.
Up Next: The finale of this series will be a 1:10 PM Central start on Sunday. Jaime Barria (2-3, 5.16 ERA) will take the mound for Los Angeles, while Houston will hand the ball to Lance McCullers Jr. (11-4, 3.19 ERA).
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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.