LA Angels 2 at Houston 3 - Recap

HOUSTON -- Marwin Gonzalez tripled to deep center field in the eighth inning and the Houston Astros capped a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-2 comeback win on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.

Gonzalez plated George Springer with a 435-foot blast that drove Los Angeles' Shane Robinson into the wall atop Tal's Hill. Gonzalez took Robinson to the foot of Tal's Hill in his previous at-bat in the sixth but the center fielder made the catch for the first out of the frame.

The Astros (37-36) saddled Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker (3-8) with the loss despite his stellar performance. Shoemaker did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the fourth inning and carried a shutout into the sixth before Jose Altuve smacked a solo home run immediately after Gonzalez's deep fly ball to Robinson in center.

Shoemaker allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings, with Gonzalez later scoring on a Carlos Correa ground ball.

Shoemaker received minimal run support and proved unable to stop the Astros from rallying in their final at-bat for a second consecutive game. Houston set up the sweep with a walk-off win Tuesday night and extended its win streak to a season-high five games.

Luke Gregerson (2-1) picked up a second consecutive win in relief and fellow right-hander Will Harris earned his sixth save.

Harris surrendered a run on three consecutive one-out singles in the ninth but was the beneficiary of a baserunning miscue by Yunel Escobar, who was thrown out by Astros left fielder Colby Rasmus after overrunning second. Harris followed by getting Mike Trout to line out to Rasmus to complete the Astros' 5-1 homestand.

The Angels (31-41) generated several early scoring opportunities against Astros right-hander Lance McCullers but finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position while stranding nine baserunners.

McCullers issued a leadoff walk in the second inning before retiring the next three batters he faced. The Angels loaded the bases in the third after Escobar delivered an RBI single that scored catcher Jett Bandy, but McCullers struck out C.J. Cron and Jefry Marte in succession to snuff that threat and keep the deficit at 1-0.

Bandy and Robinson managed consecutive two-out singles in the fourth inning, Kole Calhoun led off the fifth with a double to left-center field and Bandy singled for a third consecutive at-bat with two outs in the sixth. The Angels came away empty each time.

NOTES: Angels DH Albert Pujols missed his second consecutive game with the left hamstring injury he suffered Sunday in Oakland. Pujols played in the series opener against the Astros on Monday, recording an RBI double while also scoring a run. Angels manager Mike Scioscia determined that Pujols needed additional rest and announced that he will be re-evaluated on Friday. ... The Astros agreed to terms with their 2016 first-round pick, Alamo Heights High (San Antonio) RHP Forrest Whitley. The team signed him to a $3.148 million bonus, according to reports. Whitley was selected 17th overall in the first-year player draft and agreed to a deal $643,800 above slot value. ... Trout was given the day off defensively, serving as the designated hitter for the fourth time this season. Trout has made 67 starts in center field.