As we're seeing positive signs from the Astros, a familiar adversary is once again making noise

QUICK HITS

This past weekend against the Angels was a good one for the Astros. First off, Lance McCullers was looking like his old self Friday night. He threw 105 pitches over 7 innings with 6 K, allowing just 4 hits and walking 1. Yeah, he let up a home run to Mike Trout and a double to Shohei Ohtani. But seeing Lance pitch deep into a game was a welcome sign.

Second? Yordan Alvarez hit 2 doubles and a home run over the weekend. Maybe he's returning to the form we saw him at earlier this year. Whatever the case, the Angels walked him a couple times on Sunday. But up in the PNW, the Seattle Mariners took 2 of 3 from the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves, a team that beat the 'Stros last year and gave them trouble this year. Is this a team that worries you come playoff time?

Check out the video above to learn more!

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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