Angels defeat the Astros, 9-8. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.
Zach Neto hit two home runs and drove in six, and the Los Angeles Angels came from behind twice to beat the Houston Astros 9-8 on Sunday.
The Angels trailed 4-0 in the sixth before scoring two runs in back-to-back innings, and then took the lead in the eighth on a solo shot from Neto. The Astros responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning before the Angels had a four-run ninth.
Leading 9-6, Jose Quijada gave up a pair of RBI singles to Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini, making it a one-run game. The Angels called on Guillo Zuniga to close it out. He struck out Jeremy Pena with the tying run on third base. It was Zuniga’s second save of the season. Brock Burke (2-1) got the win.
Houston (85-71) begins a three-game series with Seattle (80-76) on Monday and has a chance to clinch the AL West with a win in that series.
The Angels loaded the bases against Astros closer Josh Hader in the ninth. Taylor Ward drew a game-tying walk before Neto ripped a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to drive in three more.
This was Hader’s fourth blown save this season. Hader (8-8) gave up four runs on three hits, walked two and struck out none in 1/3 innings.
Neto cut the lead in half in the sixth with a two-run shot in his second career multi-home run game.
Houston's Spencer Arrighetti gave up two runs on five hits, walked none and struck out six in six innings in a no decision.
Griffin Canning gave up four runs on six hits, walked three and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings.
Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman homered in the fifth inning. It was the 20th homer of the season for Altuve, who also has 22 stolen bases this season, giving him his first 20-20 season since 2017.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: OF Jordyn Adams was out of the lineup for a third-straight game due to right knee soreness. Angels manager Ron Washington considers his status still day-to-day.
Astros: OF Yordan Alvarez exited the game in the third inning with a right knee contusion. … OF Chas McCormick, on the injured list since Sept. 11 with a fractured right hand, will swing a bat on Monday. … OF Ben Gamel (fractured left fibula) is likely done for the season, according to Astros General Manager Dana Brown.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Hunter Brown (11-8, 3.57 ERA) faces Seattle RHP Bryce Miller (11-8, 3.06 ERA) in the series opener on Monday night at home.
Angels: After an off day, RHP Jonathan Cannon (4-10, 4.61 ERA) will face White Sox RHP Jack Kochanowicz (2-5, 4.56 ERA) in the series opener on Tuesday in Chicago.
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Jon Singleton’s tiebreaking two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.
The game was tied 1-1 when Ryan Miller (0-1) walked Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker to start the eighth. A fielder's-choice grounder by Yainer Diaz sent Alvarez to third.
Jeremy Peña grounded out on a ball that rolled just in front of the batter’s box before the Angels intentionally walked Victor Caratini to load the bases.
Singleton then smacked his two-strike double, a line drive to center field to score Alvarez and Diaz.
Houston’s magic number to clinch the AL West dropped to five.
Yusei Kikuchi allowed five hits and a run while striking out nine in six innings as the Astros improved to 9-0 in his nine starts since a trade from Toronto on July 29.
Taylor Ward hit a leadoff homer for the Angels, who went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position to snap a two-game winning streak.
Zach Neto doubled with one out in the eighth and he advanced to third on a groundout by Nolan Schanuel. But Bryan Abreu (3-3) retired Brandon Drury on a grounder.
Josh Hader pitched a scoreless ninth for his 32nd save.
Ward hit his fifth leadoff homer in the last 19 games. It was his 25th homer of the season, making him the ninth left fielder in franchise history with at least 25 and the first since 2018.
Kikuchi walked Schanuel with one out before a single by Drury. But Kikuchi struck out the next two batters.
The Astros had just one hit when Diaz reached on Eric Wagaman’s third error of the game to start the fourth. A single by Peña sent him to third and the Astros tied it when he scored on a single by Caratini.
José Suarez permitted three hits and a run with five strikeouts in five innings in his second start this season after spending most of the year in the bullpen.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Mickey Moniak missed a fourth straight game with a bruised left hand after he was hit by a pitch Sunday.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP Justin Verlander (4-6, 5.20 ERA) opposes LHP Tyler Anderson (10-13, 3.60) when the series continues Friday night.