Astros 6, Angels 3
HOUSTON -- Preston Tucker and Jon Singleton socked solo home runs and Lance McCullers worked seven strong innings as the Houston Astros claimed a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros (57-45) reclaimed first place in the American League West for the first time since a six-game losing streak leading into the All-Star Game break cost them their perch atop the division. Houston has hit multiple home runs in a game 42 times and is 37-5 in those contests.
Tucker bashed his 10th home run of the season into the home bullpen in right-center field to open the sixth inning. Singleton chased Angels right-hander Garrett Richards (10-8) with his first homer, also into the Astros bullpen, with one out in the seventh. Singleton added an RBI single as part of a two-run eighth inning that provided some insurance.
McCullers (5-3) allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts. Four of the Angels' hits went for extra bases, but McCullers did not issue a walk, the first time since June 8 that he did not surrender a free pass.
After mustering just two singles over four innings against the Houston bullpen in the series opener, the Angels (55-45) managed a pair of runs in the ninth inning off Astros closer Luke Gregerson, including a solo home run from first baseman Albert Pujols, his 30th. Pujols became the sixth player in league history with 13 30-homer seasons, joining Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth and Mike Schmidt.
Richards retired the first seven batters he faced and worked around a pair of walks to reach the fifth inning without allowing a hit. However, the middle of the Astros order orchestrated an uprising in the fifth, starting with a leadoff double from third baseman Luis Valbuena.
Valbuena advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored when right fielder Colby Rasmus followed with a sacrifice fly to left field. The Astros added three additional hits in the inning, with Altuve pushing the Astros to a 2-1 lead with a two-out infield hit that scored catcher Hank Conger.
Just as in the fifth inning, the leadoff batter reached for Houston in the sixth, this time in the form of the 10th home run for left fielder Preston Tucker. The sudden shift of momentum dovetailed with a run of efficiency from McCullers, who breezed after a bumpy second inning.
The Angels managed a pair of extra-base hits in the second, with third baseman Conor Gillaspie adding an RBI triple two at-bats after shortstop Erick Aybar reached on a one-out double.
NOTES: In order to make room for OFs David DeJesus and David Murphy, both of whom were acquired via trade Tuesday, the Angels optioned OF Daniel Robertson and INF/OF Efren Navarro to Triple-A Salt Lake. Both DeJesus and Murphy were in the starting lineup, with DeJesus playing center field and Murphy manning left. ... Angels CF Mike Trout missed his second consecutive start because of a sore left wrist. Trout was available as a defensive replacement but did not participate in batting practice. He remains day-to-day. ... Astros 3B Jed Lowrie returned to Houston on Wednesday after going 0-for-4 on Tuesday during a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi. Lowrie, who missed his 82nd game Wednesday night due to a right thumb ligament tear, could be activated from the disabled list in time for the weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.