After splitting a six-game homestand, the Houston Astros added west for a road trip to California as they battled the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Yordan Alvarez got the hit parade going for the Astros in the top of the first with a single to right field. Jeremy Pena followed with a single to left field before Yainer Diaz singled to left to send Alvarez home and make it a 1-0 Astros lead.
In the bottom of the second, Kevin Pillar launched a 411-foot home run off Framber Valdez to tie the game at 1-1.
Good pitching settled in as Valdez and Griffin Canning settled in nicely for six innings. In the seventh, Houston’s offense delivered with a single from Trey Cabbage followed by a single from Jose Altuve. The Angels changed pitchers and Alex Bregman drew a walk to load the bases in Hunter Strickland’s first at-bat. Alvarez cleared the bases with a three-run double to left field and Diaz got a two-run homer to left field to make it a 6-1 lead for Houston.
In the eighth, Jose Abreu added to the Astros’ lead with a home run to center field as Houston took a 7-1 lead.
Valdez pitched a complete game to open the series, giving up just four hits and striking out eight Angels on the way to a big win.
BIG NUMBER: 5
The Astros used a five-run seventh inning, including a bases-clearing double from Yordan Alvarez, to carry them to a series-opening win over the Angels Friday night.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Yainer Diaz
The Astros’ designated hitter went 3-4 at the plate with a two-run home run on the night and 3 RBI.
UP NEXT: The Astros and the Angels will meet for game 2 of the series Saturday night with the first pitch set for 9:07. Astro Launch will begin at 8:37 on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles