It took 110 games, but the Astros have finally returned to the .500 mark. Astros 7 Angels. 4. The victory would represent a sweep in Anaheim, while securing a 5-1 road trip. The Astros (55-55) have now won 8 of their last 9. In contrast, after suffering the loss, the Angels (42-67) are now 25 games under .500.
Hayden Wesneski’s (W, 1-0) return from Tommy John’s surgery was initially problematic. Zach Neto drew a leadoff walk and moved over on Mike Trout ‘s double. They’d each score on Vaughn Grissom’s
double. Grissom would come home on Jo Adell’s 61st RBI of the season and just like that, it was 3-0. All told, five of the first six batters would reach safely.
In the top of the 2nd, Yanier Diaz would launch a 425-foot blast to get the Astros on the board. It was Diaz’s 7th homer of the season. The next inning, Jeremy Pena would take a hanging slider from Grayson Rodriguez and deposit it over the centerfield wall. Pena has now hit 6 home runs over the last week and is riding an 11-game hitting streak. Rodriguez would eventually load the bases that inning, but the Astros failed to do additional damage. He would exit after five innings of work. Mitch Farris (L, 0-3) would come on for Rodriguez and immediately run into trouble, the biggest hit coming off the bat of Cam Smith. His two-run double would give Houston their first lead of the night at 4-3. Prior to that double, Cam was mired in a 2-42 slump. Farris would allow a total of three earned runs in the 6th, while walking three.
Wesneski would eventually get into a rhythm and settle down after the opening nerves took hold. He’d come out after 79 pitches in the bottom of the 6th inning. His return to the mound took 451 days. Final stat line: 5 2/3 innings with 3 ER on 7 hits. He’d allow a pair of walks and strike out four, receiving praise from Joe Espada and teammates alike.
In the 7th, Houston would add an insurance run. Yanier Diaz would bring home a hustling Jose Altuve who’d score all the way from first on an RBI single. That made things 6-3. Yanier for the night would register four hits. The Angels would score in the bottom of the 8th on Jo Adell’s second RBI of the night. Houston reclaimed that run on Denzer Guzman’s throwing error in the 9th which allowed Christian Walker to score.
Bryan Abreu (S, 7) would come on and record four outs in earning the save.
What a difference a week makes. The Astros now sit just 1 game back from the Rangers for first place in the AL West. Houston begins a 3-game series with Texas Friday at Daikin Park.
Odds & Ends:
The last time the Astros swept a series in Anaheim was back in September of 2024.
With an intentional walk in the 6th inning, Yordan Alvarez now has 19 on the season. He leads the majors.
Jose Altuve registered a pair of hits for a second consecutive game.
The Astros begin a 6 game homestand on Friday Night vs the division-leading Rangers. Hunter Brown will take the hill in search of his third win.
