Pallilo Points

Charlie Pallilo: The Astros are still on pace to win 98 games, despite bad relief pitching

Charlie Pallilo: The Astros are still on pace to win 98 games, despite bad relief pitching
The Houston Astros have struggled in close games this year. Courtesy photo

The Warriors are up 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals and even Cavaliers fans don't believe they have a shot at winning the series. Steph Curry is playing out of his mind, and there's not much else to do but sit back and enjoy the show.

The Astros will be facing the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, and no one thought Seattle would be playing so well, especially with Robinson Cano dealing with a PED suspension. Despite losing 6 of their last 10 games, the Astros are still on pace to win 98 games this season, and should win the AL West once again.

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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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