Reddick finishes hit shy of cycle, Astros down Angels
HOUSTON -- Josh Reddick finished a single shy of the cycle and scored three runs, Dallas Keuchel pitched seven strong innings, allowing just one run and the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros (10-5) match their best 15-game start since 2006.
Leading 3-1 in the seventh inning, Reddick blasted a 1-2 pitch from Mike Morin into the front row in right field for a two-run home run. It was Reddick's first home run since joining the Astros.
Reddick tripled in the first inning, doubled in the sixth and struck out swinging in his only other at-bat, finishing 3 for 4.
The lone run surrendered by Keuchel came off an RBI single from Yunel Escobar into left field in the third inning, scoring Danny Espinosa.
Keuchel (3-0) gave up one run on eight hits, striking out seven and walking one in seven innings. Keuchel, in four starts, allowed three runs across 28 innings.
From the beginning, Keuchel had run support.
In the first inning, Jose Altuve lined an 0-1 pitch to right field, which Cameron Maybin made an attempted sliding catch on but just knocked it down. Reddick, who tripled to left, scored to make it 1-0 Houston.
Starter JC Ramirez settled in for the Angels (7-9) after the first and he hung with the 2015 American League Cy Young winner for a few innings.
From the second to the fourth, Ramirez struck out seven of the nine batters he faced. Ramirez struck out the side in the fourth and five straight at one point.
Yulieski Gurriel gave Houston the lead in the fifth inning on a single into center field, driving in Alex Bregman, making it 2-1.
In the sixth inning, Reddick led off with a double. Two batters and a pair of pitching changes later, Evan Gattis drove in Reddick from third, extending the lead to 3-1.
Ramirez (2-2) gave up three runs on six hits, striking out nine and walking one in 5 1/3 innings. The nine strikeouts marks a career high for Ramirez. His previous best was six against Atlanta on June 15, 2016.
NOTES: Carlos Correa remains day-to-day, according to Astros manager A.J. Hinch. Correa suffered a right hand contusion on Saturday against Oakland. Correa has been held out of the lineup for three consecutive games. Correa did take batting practice and fielded groundballs prior to Wednesday's game. ... The Angels optioned C Carlos Perez to Triple-A Salt Lake, while calling up C Juan Graterol prior to Wednesday's game.