Angels rally in ninth inning to defeat Astros
HOUSTON -- C.J. Cron, whose throwing error in the sixth inning yielded a run, delivered a bloop single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels to a 10-6, comeback victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Angels (68-86) mounted a stunning rally against Astros closer Ken Giles (2-5), starting with a leadoff single from nine-hole hitter Cliff Pennington with Houston leading 6-4. Third baseman Yunel Escobar followed with a game-tying, two-run homer four batters before Cron deposited a hit into shallow center field to score Mike Trout.
The Astros (81-73) were knocked out by another bloop hit, this one a three-run double off the bat of pinch-hitter Rafael Ortega. Astros shortstop Carlos Correa made a diving attempt at the ball in center field but came away empty, allowing Ortega to clear the bases with two outs. Correa left the game following the play.
Giles recorded just one out while allowing six earned runs on three hits and three walks. The Astros lost ground in the American League wild-card picture, with the Blue Jays, Tigers and Orioles all winning on Friday.
Astros first baseman Marwin Gonzalez delivered a game-tying two-run single to ignite a five-run sixth inning that erased the Angels' 3-1 lead. Gonzalez drove home Yuli Gurriel and Correa with his hit off right-handed reliever Deolis Guerra.
Angels right-hander Meyer had limited the Astros to one run through five innings before allowing three of the four batters he faced in the sixth to reach base. Tyler White followed Gonzalez with a pinch RBI single before Gonzalez scored on a throwing error by Cron and pinch-runner Jake Marisnick came home on a passed ball.
Astros right-hander Doug Fister managed to work at least five innings for just the second time over his last six starts, and while he didn't provide length, he was effective enough to reverse the trend of a several poor performances this month.
Fister did encounter a spot of trouble in the second inning, surrendering back-to-back doubles to Albert Pujols and Cron that enabled the Angels to take a 1-0 lead. Two batters after Cron drove home Pujols, Nick Buss delivered a double over sprawling right fielder George Springer to plate Cron and up the Angels lead to 2-0.
Despite allowing a pair of one-out singles in the third, Fister limited the damage to the runs he allowed in the second, completing five innings and allowing five hits and one walk with three strikeouts. After allowing a total of 24 runs over 16 2/3 innings in September, Fister produced an outing that represented a modest step forward.
NOTES: Astros RHP Lance McCullers emerged from his first bullpen session without complications and will continue with his throwing program. McCullers tossed a 30-pitch bullpen on Thursday and is scheduled for another on Sunday or Monday. McCullers was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 3 with right elbow discomfort. ... Angels RHP Garrett Richards had a "great" bullpen session recently, one that left both Angels manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Charles Nagy highly optimistic. Richards appears poised to pitch in the instructional league as part of his comeback from a right ulnar collateral ligament injury that resulted in his landing on the disabled list on May 6. ... The Angels aren't committing to a pitch count for RHP Alex Meyer but rather allowing him to pitch as long as he's effective. In recording his first career victory on Sunday against the Blue Jays, Meyer threw a season-high 79 pitches over five shutout innings.