Nolasco, Pujols lead Angels past Astros
HOUSTON -- Ricky Nolasco worked seven shutout innings and Albert Pujols' first-inning home run stood as the Los Angeles Angels snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Houston Astros with a 2-0 victory Thursday night at Minute Maid Park.
Nolasco (7-14) produced his third scoreless outing for the Angels (67-86) since being acquired from the Twins on Aug. 1. He allowed five hits and one walk with five strikeouts to follow the six scoreless innings he tossed at the Blue Jays on Saturday.
After needing double plays to escape his two previous innings, Nolasco retired the middle of the Astros order in order to cap his outing. Nolasco also twirled a shutout against the Reds on Aug. 31 and has surrendered seven runs over his last 35 innings covering five starts.
Right-hander JC Ramirez preserved the shutout despite allowing a pair of hits in the eighth inning. Andrew Bailey picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
Pujols blasted his 31st home run off Astros right-hander Mike Fiers (11-8) with one out in the first inning. It was his 28th career home run at Minute Maid Park.
Fiers struck out three in the first inning, but that frame was his bumpiest by far. His one-out walk to Mike Trout set the stage for Pujols to continue his ravaging of Houston with a two-run blast on the first pitch, his 53rd homer against the Astros (81-72).
Two batters later, Andrelton Simmons doubled to the right-center-field gap and advanced to third base on an error by center fielder Jake Marisnick. Fiers recovered to strike out Jefry Marte, initiating a string in which he retired 13 consecutive batters.
Armed with a 2-0 lead before he took the mound, Nolasco pitched with the intention of maintaining it. He worked around solo baserunners in the first and third innings, striking out the side in between in the second. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve singled for a second consecutive at-bat in the fourth but was quickly erased when Carlos Correa followed by grounding into a fielder's choice.
In the fifth and sixth, Nolasco induced timely double-play ground balls, first from Tony Kemp and then from Yulieski Gurriel after George Springer led off the sixth with a walk.
NOTES: Astros RHP Lance McCullers completed his first bullpen session since being placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow discomfort on Aug. 3. McCullers tossed 30 pitches, all fastballs and changeups, and will be re-evaluated Friday to determine his next course of action. There is no timetable for his return and he will include curveballs in his next bullpen session before facing live batters. ... Angels OF Kole Calhoun went through a rigorous pregame workout and will return to the starting lineup on Friday night after missing three games to be with his wife for the birth of their son. ... Astros television broadcaster Bill Brown announced his retirement effective at the end of this season. Brown, who joined the club in 1987, will call his final game Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners.