Jake Meyers hit his first two major league home runs to propel the Houston Astros to an 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Saturday night in Anaheim, making moot Angels DH Shohei Ohtani's major league-best 39th homer.
Meyers had just six games of experience in the big leagues before hitting his first career homer to get the Astros on the scoreboard in the third inning, then unloaded with a grand slam in the sixth that broke open a close game.
Astros DH Yordan Alvarez had a big night at the plate with two doubles, a single and two RBIs. Houston starter Luis Garcia (9-6) pitched a serviceable five innings, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five.
Angels starter Jaime Barria (2-1) lasted just three innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out one.
The Angels jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Garcia even recorded an out.
Angels designated hitter Ohtani led off the bottom of the first with a home run, hitting an 84-mph changeup over the fence in right for a 1-0 lead. David Fletcher singled, stole second and scored on a single by Jared Walsh to make it 2-0.
Barria got through the first two innings unscathed before the Astros broke through in the third. Meyers, hitting in the No. 9 spot, hit his first home run of the game with one out, and Jose Altuve followed with a double.
Michael Brantley's infield single moved Altuve to third, and Altuve scored on Carlos Correa's sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2.
The Astros took the lead on Alvarez's first double, driving in Brantley for a 3-2 edge, then added to their lead in the fifth inning. Brantley was hit by a pitch with one out and later scored on a double by Alvarez for a 4-2 lead.
The Astros opened up a big lead in the sixth when Angels reliever Junior Guerra walked two and gave up a single before Meyers hit his slam.
--Field Level Media