Angels 6, Astros 5
HOUSTON -- David Freese delivered a two-strike, two-out, two-run double in a three-run eighth inning that helped the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-5 win over the Houston Astros and a critical three-game series victory on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.
Freese pushed the Angels (78-74) in front with his blast to left-center field off Astros right-hander Pat Neshek. The long drive just eluded leaping Astros left fielder Colby Rasmus at the wall.
Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who doubled against Will Harris (5-5) leading off the eighth, and pinch-runner Collin Cowgill scored on Freese's double to erase the Astros' 4-3 lead. Catcher Carlos Perez, a former Astros farmhand, added an RBI single to chase Neshek.
The Angels closed to within 1 1/2 games of the Astros (80-73) in the chase for the second wild card in the American League.
A half-inning earlier, the Astros fashioned a dramatic two-out rally of their own.
Right fielder George Springer, whose RBI single in the fifth inning scored catcher Max Stassi and snapped an Astros dry spell with runners in scoring position, slapped a two-run, two-out triple the opposite way to right field off Angels right-hander Trevor Gott (3-2). Jake Marisnick and second baseman Jose Altuve, who was intentionally walked ahead of Springer, scored to give the Astros a one-run lead.
The Angels jumped out to a lead in their first at-bat for a second consecutive game, scoring twice off Astros right-hander Mike Fiers when first baseman C.J. Cron delivered a two-run single with two outs. Fiers did not allow another hit until the fifth when right fielder Kole Calhoun smacked a home run to right field with one out.
Houston stranded baserunners in scoring position in the first and second innings before Springer delivered in the fifth.
Angels closer Huston Street posted his 40th save despite allowing an RBI single to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the ninth that scored Altuve with two outs.
NOTES: The Astros recalled 1B Jon Singleton from Triple-A Fresno to bolster their left-handed power off the bench. Singleton hit .254/.359/.505 with 22 home runs and 83 RBIs in 102 games with the Grizzlies, who defeated the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday night for the Triple-A championship. In 111 games over two seasons with the Astros, Singleton is batting .172/.289/.333 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs. ... Angels RHP Huston Street pulled into a tie with RHP Robb Nen for 20th place on the all-time career saves list with his 314th on Tuesday night. Street has 39 saves this season, two off his career high of 41 set last season with the Angels and Padres. ... Astros CF Carlos Gomez ran the bases on Tuesday with the greatest vigor since being sidelined by an intercostal strain on Sept. 12. While Gomez isn't ready to hit, he could serve as a pinch runner of defensive replacement in the near future.