Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Match Player Stats On Aug 27, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 27, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Brian McCann hit a three-run triple in the eighth inning to help the visiting Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-5 on Sunday and avoid blowing a sizable lead for the second straight game.

Houston gave up three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to fall behind 5-4 after leading 4-0. Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian struck out the first two batters in the eighth, but Jose Altuve beat out a routine grounder to shortstop, Josh Reddick singled to right and Yuri Gurriel walked to load the bases.

McCann then lifted a fly ball to deep center and Mike Trout crashed into the wall as he leaped to make the catch, but he came up short. All three runners scored to give the Astros a 7-5 lead.

Chris Devenski then retired the side in order in the eighth and Ken Giles pitched the ninth, getting Albert Pujols to fly out with the bases loaded to earn his 26th save.

Joe Musgrove (6-8) got the win despite giving up two runs in two innings.

The Angels rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Astros 7-6 on Saturday night, the major-league-leading eighth time this season Los Angeles has come back from at least four runs down to win.

Ben Revere's three-run double in the fifth inning Sunday cut the deficit to 4-3, and Luis Valbuena's two-run homer in the sixth put Los Angeles ahead 5-4.

After the Angels took the lead, relievers Yusmeiro Petit and Bedrosian combined to retire five in a row, four by strikeout, but Bedrosian (3-3) couldn't slam the door on Houston in the eighth.

The Angels fell 1 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American League wild-card spot.

The Angels surrendered two runs in the top of the first inning for the second consecutive game, this time on a two-run homer by Altuve. George Springer walked to start the game and was on second base when Altuve hit a 1-0 pitch deep over the fence in left for his 20th home run of the season.

The Astros strung together four consecutive singles off Angels starter Ricky Nolasco to start the fourth inning and stretch their lead to 4-0. McCann drove in Reddick with a line drive to right field and Marwin Gonzalez plated Gurriel with a line drive to right-center.

Nolasco settled in, however, and retired eight in a row before exiting after six innings, allowing four runs and six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Astros starter Charlie Morton didn't allow a base hit until Pujols singled over the head of center-fielder Jake Marisnick, but he was quickly erased on a ground ball double play by Kole Calhoun.

Morton had walked C.J. Cron to lead off the third inning, but he was erased on a 6-4-3 double play on a ball hit by by Maldonado. Morton also hit Cliff Pennington with two outs in the inning, but he was stranded at first base.

Morton was removed after five innings. He allowed three runs and five hits, striking out five and walking one.

NOTES: Astros RHP Will Harris was activated from the 10-day disabled list on Sunday after being sidelined since July 5 with right shoulder inflammation. Harris is 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 34 relief appearances with Houston covering 34 2/3 innings this season. ... Houston RHP James Hoyt was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on Sunday. Hoyt had a 4.98 ERA and seven holds in 38 relief appearances covering 43 1/3 innings and had allowed one run in his last seven appearances covering eight innings, but the 30-year-old hadn't been called upon since Aug. 17. ... Angels CF Mike Trout went 0-for-3 with two walks and is hitless in his past 17 at-bats, one short of tying his career-long hitless streak set in August of 2014.