Real Talk

Charles Barkley clears the air with Houston fans

Charles Barkley clears the air with Houston fans
Charles Barkley tells Barry Laminack (left) and Joel Blank (right) that he probably played two years too long. Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for American Express

Charles Barkley joins Joel Blank and Barry Laminack on The Usual Suspects on ESPN 97.5 and talks about the Rockets’ performance in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Charles also goes on to say the Rockets have more depth and overall talent than the Warriors. He is very impressed with the offensive explosion the Rockets got out of their role players, and he believes Houston has played most of the year like they did in Game 2. He also gives James Harden some high praise when he mentions his name with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Later, Joel gets Charles to admit that his dogs take private flights a couple times of year, so they don’t have to deal with the commercial “riff-raff.” And finally, Chuck talks about some of his regrets and how he should have retired a couple years sooner because his body was breaking down. He wishes the fans of Houston would have experienced more of his prime seasons. Make sure you check out the full fantastic interview here.

You can hear Joel Blank and Barry Laminack on The Usual Suspects weekdays from 1-4pm on ESPN 97.5 radio. You can listen live or on demand with the ESPN 97.5 radio app.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

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.

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