Trout, Marte back Chacin as Angels cruise
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jhoulys Chacin pitched seven scoreless innings to lead the Los Angeles Angels to an 8-1 rout of the Houston Astros on Sunday in front of 28,063 at Angel Stadium.
Chacin (6-8) earned his first win since Aug. 27 with his fourth successive quality start. In his seven innings, Chacin scattered three hits, issued one walk, amassed seven strikeouts and induced 11 groundouts.
Mike Trout stole his 30th base and drove in his 100th run of the season. Jefry Marte added his 15th home run as the Angels finished the season by winning nine of their final 11 games.
Houston's Jose Altuve secured the American League's batting championship with a .338 average and finished first with 216 hits after going 1-for-4. But the Astros lost seven of their final 10 games.
The Angels turned four hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly into a 4-0 lead in the second inning against right-hander Brady Rodgers, who was making his first major league start after four relief appearances.
Marte started the rally by drawing a walk and Andrelton Simmons followed with a hit-and-run single that sent Marte to third base. Rafael Ortega's single brought Marte home and Carlos Perez's double down the left-field line scored Simmons while putting Ortega at third base.
Cliff Pennington then hit a single that short-hopped right fielder Teoscar Hernandez, scored Ortega and sent Perez to third. Yunel Escobar's sacrifice fly brought Perez home.
Rodgers (0-1) threw a season-high 82 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings. The rookie allowed four runs, five hits and three walks.
In the sixth, Los Angeles combined three hits, a walk, a fielder's choice and a passed ball into three runs and a 7-0 advantage. Kole Calhoun hit a fly ball that center fielder Jake Marisnick lost in the sun for a two-run double before being replaced by pinch runner Nick Buss. Trout then lined a single into right field to score Buss for his 100th RBI.
Jett Bandy pinch ran for Trout, who received a standing ovation from the fans and a hug from Calhoun. Marte added his 15th home run in the seventh when he propelled Jandel Gustave's 97 mph fastball over the fence in left-center field for a solo drive.
The Astros broke the shutout in the eighth against reliever J.C. Ramirez. Colin Moran began the inning with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on Marisnick's groundout and scored on Teoscar Hernandez's sacrifice fly.
NOTES: Plate umpire Bob Davidson will retire after Sunday's contest. Davidson has called more than 3,900 major league games, including the 1992 World Series, in his 28-year career. ... Houston finished with its first winning record away from home since 2004. The Astros entered Sunday's game with a 41-39 road record. ... Astros RF George Springer became the first member of the team since Carlos Lee in 2007 to play all 162 games. ... Astros DH Jose Altuve needs one stolen base for 200 in his career. ... Los Angeles RHP Jered Weaver said before Saturday night's game he does not plan to retire despite nagging injuries and declining velocity. Weaver, who will turn 34 on Tuesday, is a free agent. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia needs two wins to tie Hall of Famer Clark Griffith for 22nd place with 1,491 victories. ... The Angels became the first team since the 1969 Montreal Expos without an extra-inning victory.