QUICK HITS
Some indisputable reasons to believe Rockets have turned a major corner in the rebuild
Nov 28, 2022, 3:58 pm
QUICK HITS

After a tough start to the season, the Houston Rockets are starting to show some positive signs with two encouraging wins over the Thunder and the Hawks recently.
What's even more exciting, is that rookie Jabari Smith Jr. has quietly put together some impressive performances as of late, and the rest of the young nucleus appears to be developing as well. Watching the Rockets beat the Hawks in a chippy game where Houston felt disrespected, points to some real growth for this squad.
Are these signs the Rockets are getting over the hump and showing some good things under coach Stephen Silas?
Be sure to check out the video above as we discuss the signs of development we're seeing, and if Coach Silas will still be coaching the team when the season starts next year.
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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.
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.
