Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Match Player Stats On Aug 25, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 26, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Houston Astros reliever Chris Devenski had faced Mike Trout before. Four times in fact.

The hard-throwing right-hander had not exactly fared well, walking the Los Angeles Angels center fielder twice and allowing a home run, to go with one strikeout.

He faced Trout in the seventh inning with the game on the line Friday night at Angel Stadium and induced a pop fly to second base, ending the Angels' best chance at winning the game and helping lift the Astros to a 2-1 victory.

Astros starter Collin McHugh (2-2) laid the groundwork, giving up one run and three hits in six innings to get the win. J.D. Davis homered and Alex Bregman had three hits as Houston maintained a 12 1/2-game lead in the American League West.

The Angels lost for the fourth time in five games on their current homestand and fell 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild-card spot. Angels starter Parker Bridwell (7-2) pitched well in defeat, giving up two runs and six hits in seven innings.

Trout, who scored the Angels' only run of the game in the first inning, came to bat in the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs. He quickly fell behind in the count 0-2 but worked the count full.

With the crowd on its feet, Devenski threw an 85 mph breaking ball that might have been off the plate, but Trout swung and hit a popup to second baseman Marwin Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, subbing for injured Jose Altuve, also made the final out of the eighth inning. With one on and one out, Astros reliever Joe Musgrove threw a pitch that Andrelton Simmons scorched. But Gonzalez made a leaping catch, then doubled up the runner at first to end the inning.

Ken Giles pitched the ninth for his 25th save.

The Angels got on the scoreboard against McHugh in the bottom of the first inning after Trout's one-out walk. Trout took second on a passed ball and scored on Calhoun's two-out double off the right-field wall.

The Angels threatened in the second inning when Luis Valbuena and C.J. Cron began the inning with back-to-back singles. But McHugh worked out of the jam by striking out Martin Maldonado and Kaleb Cowart, then getting Cameron Maybin on a fly to center.

That started a streak of 12 consecutive batters retired by McHugh, who shut down the Angels 1-2-3 in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

The Astros tied the score at 1 in the third on J.D. Davis' home run, hitting Bridwell's first pitch of the inning over the fence in left field for his second career home run. Davis hit his first career homer on Thursday against Washington.

NOTES: Astros 2B Jose Altuve was not in the starting lineup because a sore neck. He hurt his neck on a swing in the sixth inning Thursday and had to leave the game. Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Altuve's availability for the games Saturday and Sunday will be decided on a day-by-day basis. INF Marwin Gonzalez started at second base in Altuve's absence. ... Astros bench coach Alex Cora was ejected in the first inning by plate umpire Laz Diaz for arguing balls and strikes. ... The Astros activated Evan Gattis from the seven-day concussion disabled list. C Matt Stassi (inflammed left hand) was placed on the 10-day disabled list to make room on the roster for Gattis. ... The Angels called up RHP Mike Morin from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioned INF/OF Jefry Marte to Salt Lake.