The Houston Astros (54-55) struck out 17 times tonight against the Los Angeles Angels (42-66), and still found a way to win.
Starter Peter Lambert was solid again, as he held the Angels to 2 runs over 5 innings on 7 hits, walking 1 and striking out 6. Though he wouldn’t factor in the decision, he once again gave his team a chance to win.
Enyel De Los Santos, Bryan Abreu, Steven Okert and Josh Hader (S, 14) combined for 4 scoreless, hitless innings in which they struck out 5 without walking a batter.
In the top of the 9th, with runners on the corners and 2 outs in a 2-2 game, the Angels decided to pitch to Yordan Alvarez. It ended exactly as you thought it would.
Alvarez ripped a 2-out RBI single to drive in Nick Allen with the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory. Josh Hader closed out the 9th on 4 pitches.
The Astros got on the board first, when Alvarez launched his major league-leading 35th HR, giving Houston a 1-0 lead.
The Angels would tie the game at 1 in the third on an RBI single by Vaughn Grissom.
Houston would get that run right back in the top of the 4th when Christian Walker hammered his 21st HR of the season, a solo shot to re-take the lead at 2-1.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Angels would tie the game again when Jorge Soler doubled in Mike Trout.
Neither team really mounted any kind of offense again until Alvarez broke the tie in the 9th.
The Astros are now 1 game under .500 for the first time since April 8, when they were 6-7. Houston is 2 games behind the Texas Rangers for the AL West division lead, and 1 GB of the Cleveland Guardians for the 3rd Wild Card spot in the AL.
Hayden Wesneski will be activated tomorrow and make the start for the Astros as they go for the series sweep.
