ROCKY START?
Familiar Houston Astros foe already facing uphill battle
Mar 8, 2023, 9:23 am
Familiar Astros foe already facing uphill battle
Now that MLB spring training is in full swing, we're starting to see some concerns pop up for some of the Astros top competitors in the AL. Yankees pitcher Frankie Montas has already had surgery, and hopes to be back at some point.
The Yankees top acquisition, pitcher Carlos Rodon was shelled in his first spring training appearance, which should calm some Astros fans getting nervous about Hunter Brown's early control issues.
It's early, so everyone should take a deep breath and relax. The Astros have the best World Series odds according to BETMGM.
With these early concerns in mind, which team in the AL has the best rotation, and who is the biggest threat to dethrone the Astros?
Be sure to check out the video above to find out!
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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.