ASTROS WIN!
Díaz's first career grand slam helps Astros rout Angels
Apr 12, 2025, 2:22 pm
The Astros beat the Angels, 14-3. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Yainer Díaz hit his first career grand slam in a six-run fifth inning and the Houston Astros had a season-high scoring total in a 14-3 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
YAINER DIAZ. GRAND SLAM. pic.twitter.com/ZtwN9BxESa
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 12, 2025
Díaz, who entered the game with just one RBI this year, had three hits and drove in a career-high five runs in the victory.
The Astros trailed by 1 with two outs and two on in the fifth when they tied it on an RBI single by Yordan Alvarez that rolled just out of reach of a diving Tim Anderson.
Christian Walker followed with an RBI single to put the Astros up 3-2. Jack Kochanowicz (1-1) walked Jeremy Peña to load the bases and was lifted for Garrett McDaniels.
Díaz sent his third pitch into the concourse in left center field for his first homer this season to make it 7-2. It was Houston’s first grand slam since Jose Abreu’s in a 12-3 win over Texas on Sept. 6, 2023.
Díaz added an RBI double as the Astros tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning.
Rookie Cam Smith doubled in the sixth and his first career home run made it 13-3 in the eighth.
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
Cam Smith with his first Major League Home Run! pic.twitter.com/Hb91OjGUgk
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 12, 2025
Mike Trout hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for the Angels to give him six this year which is tied with last season for his most home runs through the first 13 games. It was the team’s 19th home run combined in the last six games, which is a franchise record for a six-game span — topping the 18 they hit in six games in the 2003 season
The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the second when Peña scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Meyers.
Los Angeles tied it on Trout’s home run off the wall above the seats in left field to open the fourth inning.
Kyren Paris opened the fifth with a double and scored on a single by Jo Adell to put the Angels up 2-1 before Houston took the lead with its outburst in the bottom of the inning.
Houston starter Ronel Blanco (1-1) allowed four hits and two runs in five innings for the win.
Key moment
The grand slam by Díaz that broke the game open.
Key stat
Nine of Houston’s runs came with two outs.
Up next
Houston RHP Ryan Gusto (1-0, 1.13 ERA) opposes LHP Tyler Anderson (0-0, 4.50) when the series continues Saturday night.
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Manager Joe Espada is hoping Colton Gordon can deliver for Houston. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.
The Houston Astros are set to promote left-handed pitcher Colton Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land to make his major league debut on Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Gordon, 26, has been impressive this season with the Space Cowboys, posting a 4-0 record and a 2.55 ERA over 42⅓ innings, along with 43 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP. He last pitched on May 9, delivering six innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Gordon was selected by the Astros in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Central Florida.
Gordon's promotion comes as the Astros navigate a stretch of 17 consecutive games without a day off. The team plans to utilize a six-man rotation during this period, and Gordon's addition helps fill the gap left by Hayden Wesneski, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow soreness.
He will face Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen, who enters the game with a 3-3 record and a 3.57 ERA over 45⅓ innings this season.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT at Daikin Park.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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