Astros 2, Angels 1
Astros 2, Angels 1: Erik Bedard tossed seven superb innings and Brandon Barnes lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth to snap a tie and lead visiting Houston to its season-best sixth consecutive win.
Chris Carter homered for the third time in five games for the Astros, who completed a four-game sweep of the Angels and finished their road trip 6-0. It was the best trek for Houston since 1999, when it went 7-0 from Sept. 3-9.
Bedard (1-2) limited Los Angeles to one run on five hits - four singles - while walking one and striking out two en route to his first victory since Aug. 12 while with Pittsburgh. Two relievers bridged the gap to Jose Veras, who struck out pinch-hitter Hank Conger with the tying run on second to notch his 11th save in 14 chances.
Joe Blanton (1-9) was the hard-luck loser, falling to 0-4 at home despite yielding only two runs and three hits over eight innings. The veteran right-hander did not issue a walk and matched his career high with 11 strikeouts.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the third as J.B. Shuck hit a one-out double and scored two batters later on Mike Trout's sacrifice fly. Carter forged a tie with a two-out solo blast in the fifth and Barnes' sacrifice fly in the next frame scored Matt Dominguez, who led off with a double.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Carter recorded a hit in every game of Houston's road trip and collected seven RBIs. ... The Astros have won six in a row on the road for the first time since July 18-22, 2005 and six straight overall for the first time since July 27-Aug. 3, 2010, when they won seven consecutive contests. ... The Angels have dropped four straight at home after winning their previous six.