Now that the All-Star break is over, the Houston Astros got a few days to rest and get ready for an in-division weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels. Houston went down early but the offense popped off in the middle innings as the Astros beat the Angels 7-5.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Houston threatened to score at the top of the first when Kyle Tucker and Jose Abreu hit singles into right field. Shohei Ohtani shut down the inning with his second strikeout on Chas McCormick.
Ohtani at the bottom of the first then hit a single out in left field and got to second base on an infield single by Mickey Moniak. Luis Rengifo would hit a ground out to second to end the inning.
After a three-up-three-down second inning, Los Angeles would put up the first runs of the game. Mike Moustakas started off the inning with a single into center field. Hunter Renfroe reached base on a fielding error Jeremy Peña and Michael Stefanic drove in Moustakas. Zach Neto then made it a 2-0 game on an RBI ground out to JP France that allowed Renfroe to score.
The Astros tied the game at the top of the fourth. It began with Tucker being hit by a pitch and Abreu getting walked. The bases were loaded once McCormick was walked. Bligh Madris then hit into an infielder’s choice that got Tucker out at home. Cory Julks and Pena each racked up an rbi in the next two plays that made it a 2-2 game.
Houston would take the lead for the first time in the fifth. Alex Bregman hit a double into center field. Tucker’s double put the Astros up and then Tucker scored on an error to put them up by two.
Los Angeles would come right back at the bottom of the fifth as Ohtani and Taylor Ward hit singles. Moniak drove in Ohtani, then Eduardo Escobar, who subbed in for Rengifo drove in Ward to tie the game at four.
The Astros reclaimed the lead at the top of the sixth as Julks and Pena were walked. Mauricio Dubon’s rbi single put Houston up two. Abreu’s single into left field made it 7-4.
Ward hit a solo home run 410 feet over the left field wall to cut their deficit to two at the bottom of the seventh. Hector Neris also struck out the other three batters in the inning.
The defense for the Astros would stand tall the last few innings and secure themselves their 51st win of the season as they defeat the Angels 7-5.
BIG NUMBER: 22
The bats were hot all night as there was a total of 22 hits. 12 came from the Astros and the other 10 were from the Angels.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jose Abreu
Abreu’s bat was on fire as he went 3/4 from the plate with a run scored and a rbi in a 7-5 Friday night win over the Los Angeles Angels.
UP NEXT: The Astros will play game two of their series against the Angels tomorrow night at 8:07 in Anaheim.