Correa's pinch hit homer in 13th leads Astros past Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Carlos Correa hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the top of the 13th inning to give the Houston Astros an 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday at Angel Stadium.
Jose Altuve contributed four hits and Jake Marisnick hit his first homer, as the Astros tied a season high with 14 hits while earning their fifth win in six games.
Kole Calhoun hit his fourth home run and Albert Pujols had three hits for Los Angeles. But third baseman Yunel Escobar left the game in the top of the second inning when Marisnick hit a line drive off his left wrist, causing a contusion. Escobar is day-to-day.
The Astros began the final rally when Tyler White and Marwin Gonzalez hit successive singles with one out in the top of the 13th. But when right-hander Mike Morin (1-1) struck out Marisnick, Correa was called upon to bat for Tony Kemp.
Correa, originally given the day off, hit Morin's 69 mile per hour curveball into the Astros' bullpen in left field for his eighth home run of the season, despite left fielder Rafael Ortega's attempt at a leaping one-handed catch.
Nevertheless, the Angels brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 13th.
Calhoun walked with one out against closer Luke Gregerson, then went to third base on Pujols' two-out double. With Johnny Giavotella at the plate, Calhoun scored on a wild pitch that allowed Pujols to take third. But Gregerson struck out Giavotella to earn his 12th save and preserve the win for Michael Feliz (3-1), who pitched a perfect 12th inning.
The Angels scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 5-4 lead. C.J. Cron hit a lead-off double over center fielder Marisnick's head and took third base on a wild pitch. After Mike Trout walked with one out, Albert Pujols hit a bloop single to right field that sent Cron home and Trout to third base. Johnny Giavotella followed with a squeeze bunt that scored Trout.
The Astros tied the score in the eighth. Evan Gattis doubled off the right-field wall and scored on Luis Valbuena's single down the right-field line. Valbuena tried to extend his hit into a double but right fielder Kole Calhoun threw him out.
Los Angeles placed runners at third with two out in the bottom of the eighth and in scoring position with two out in the bottom of the ninth yet failed to score.
Houston had a chance to win in the 10th. After Colby Rasmus walked with one out, Gattis hit a deep fly ball that Calhoun tried to catch at the right-field wall. But the ball hit the heel of his glove, allowing Gattis and Rasmus to move into scoring position. Calhoun was charged with an error. Valbuena then received an intentional walk to load the bases.
But Tyler White struck out and Gonzalez hit a low line drive to Cron at first base.
The Angels also loaded the bases with one out in the 11th. Calhoun tripled off the right-field scoreboard, then Trout and Pujols received intentional walks. But Giavotella struck out and Rafael Ortega popped out.
Calhoun's fourth home run of the season gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Calhoun propelled the first pitch he saw from right-hander Doug Fister, an 87 mile per hour fastball, seven rows into the right-field bleachers.
But the Astros scored three runs in the top of the fifth against right-hander Nick Tropeano. Marisnick drove in two runs with his first home run off Tropeano's 80 mile per hour slider. Left fielder Ortega tried to make a leaping one-handed catch at the fence but the ball sailed inches wide of his glove.
Tony Kemp followed with a single, then stole second base and came home on Jose Altuve's single. The steal was Kemp's first as a major leaguer.
Los Angeles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth but scored just one run on Mike Trout's single up the middle off the glove of diving shortstop Gonzalez.
Houston followed suit in the top of the sixth and chased Tropeano yet produced only one run. Right-hander Cam Bedrosian got Gonzalez to hit into a double play that brought Gattis home.
The Angels narrowed their deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, when Ortega scored on a fielder's choice by Jett Bandy.
NOTES: Houston INF Marwin Gonzalez made his second start at shortstop this season. Gonzalez replaced SS Carlos Correa, who received the day off. ... The Astros' bullpen compiled a 2.22 ERA this month, the major leagues' best heading into Sunday's game. ... Los Angeles LHP C.J. Wilson had his rehabilitation program interrupted after an MRI discovered biceps tendinitis. Wilson, on the disabled list all season, threw 56 pitches for Class A Inland Empire on Wednesday night and felt discomfort after his bullpen session Saturday. ... Angels SS Cliff Pennington played his first game since being activated from the disabled list. Pennington started at shortstop. ... Angels 1B Kaleb Cowart made his first major league start at the position Sunday. Cowart played his previous 35 games at third base. ... Angels DH Albert Pujols passed Hall of Famer Honus Wagner and moved into 21st in career RBIs Saturday night.