Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Match Player Stats On Aug 26, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 27, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif.-- Andrelton Simmons hit a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-6 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday, moving them back within a half game of the second American League wild card spot.

Houston starter Brad Peacock had allowed one run and three hits over six innings and struck out eight, but the Astros bullpen couldn't follow suit, giving up two runs in the seventh and four with two outs in the eighth as the Angels avoided their first four-game losing streak since April.

Los Angeles right fielder Kole Calhoun drove in two runs with a solo home run in the second and RBI single in the eighth, which preceded Simmons' 14th home run of the season that sailed just out of the reach of left-fielder Josh Reddick.

Jake Marisnick doubled and homered in the No. 9 spot for Houston, Reddick drove in two runs and George Springer hit his 29th homer of the season.

Peacock came in second in the AL in winning percentage and fourth in strikeouts per nine innings pitched. He gave up the home run to Calhoun, but allowed just one other runner past first base.

The Angels didn't pressure Houston until Peacock left, scoring two runs on groundouts in the seventh inning to make it 6-3 and four more in the eighth. Mike Trout walked with two outs and Albert Pujols followed with a soft single to center. Calhoun and Simmons then put the runs on the board.

The comeback prevented Angels starter Tyler Skaggs from absorbing his fourth straight loss. He went five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and six hits, striking out three and walking two.

The Astros scored two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead.

Skaggs got ahead in the count to Yuli Gurriel and Reddick in the first inning but walked Gurriel with two outs to put runners on first and second. Reddick then worked the count full before lining a single into right-center field, scoring Alex Bregman and Gurriel, who were running on the pitch.

Brian McCann singled with one out in the second and took third on Marisnick's double down the right-field line. Skaggs again nearly escaped the jam after getting leadoff hitter George Springer to pop up for the second out, but he balked in McCann and third baseman Luis Valbuena made an fielding error on Bregman's two-hopper to score Marisnick for a 4-0 lead.

Kole Calhoun drove in the only run for the Angels in their previous two games and he knocked in the first on Saturday, hitting the first pitch in the bottom of second inning high over the fence in right field. It was his 17th home run of the season and first allowed by Peacock in his past four starts.

Skaggs retired seven in a row before Marisnick homered with two outs in the fourth to make it 5-1. It was Marisnick's 16th home run of the season and 13th in the No. 9 spot, the most in the American League by a No. 9 hitter since Brandon Inge hit 14 for the Detroit Tigers in 2006.

Skaggs went five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and six hits, striking out three and walking two.

The Angels put their leadoff batter on base in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't advance either runner.

NOTES: Angels RHP Blake Wood was activated on Saturday, a day after he was claimed on waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, and threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning in his debut to earn the win. Wood, 32, had a 5.65 ERA and three holds in 55 appearances covering 57 1/3 innings this season. He had a team-leading 15 holds for the Reds last season, finishing with a 3.99 ERA in 76 2/3 innings. The Angels optioned RHP Mike Morin to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room. ... Angels RHP Garrett Richards is scheduled to make his first rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday. Richards, a 15-game winner in 2015, last pitched on April 5, when he left a game against the Oakland A's with biceps nerve irritation in his throwing arm. ... 2B Jose Altuve returned to the lineup Saturday, two days after exiting in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals with neck soreness. Altuve, who enteredSaturday with the best batting average in the AL post-All Star break at .380, went 0-4, snapping a 17-game hitting streak at Angel Stadium, the longest at the venue by a major league player since Joe Mauer had an 18-game streak from 2007-11.