MLB

Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros

· Major League Baseball
Los Angeles Angels
62-93, 30-47 Away
Final
4 - 10
Houston Astros
85-70, 45-32 Home

Alvarez and Tucker power Astros to 10-4 win over Angels

Victor Caratini launched an early three-run homer to help back Astros starter Ronel Blanco (12-6). Houston had a season-high 20 hits and lowered its magic number to three for clinching the AL West crown.

Alvarez and Tucker connected off reliever Ryan Miller in a span of three pitches, extending the lead to 10-2 in the seventh inning. It marked the seventh time the team has hit back-to-back home runs this season.

“He didn’t even let me enjoy the homer because as I was getting to the dugout he was already hitting his,” Alvarez said through an interpreter.

Tucker put together his second consecutive four-hit game. Alvarez entered the night hitless in his previous 12 at-bats.

Alvarez and Tucker hit successive doubles in the first to give the Astros a 1-0 lead. The Angels tied it in the second when Mickey Moniak scored on Logan O’Hoppe’s double after a throwing error by left fielder Mauricio Dubón.

Houston regained the lead in the second when Jose Altuve singled home Caratini with the bases loaded. Jake Meyers scored when the next hitter, Alvarez, grounded into a double play.

Houston broke open the game with a four-run third that included a three-run shot by Caratini, who also walked, singled and scored two runs.

Meyers went 2 for 3 with a double, two walks, a stolen base and a run.

Blanco allowed two runs and seven hits over six innings with nine strikeouts. His 2.88 ERA ranks third in the American League.

“I tip my hat to him,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “From day one, that no-hitter he threw (in his first start), he’s been embracing that role. He’s been grinding it out. We gave him that little breather. His stuff looks good. He’s been a workhorse for us.”

Angels starter Reid Detmers (4-8) was chased after letting the first four Astros batters reach safely in the third. He gave up seven runs and nine hits while retiring just five of the 17 hitters he faced.

“Too many pitches out over the middle of the plate,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “As relentless as that lineup is, you've got to make them work for their at-bats. They had too many easy swings. He was out there competing, but when he didn’t get it where he wanted to get it, they didn’t miss it.”

O’Hoppe went 4 for 4 with a home run and two doubles. Nolan Schanuel extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games for Los Angeles.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: OF Jordyn Adams was out of the lineup for a second straight game due to right knee soreness.

Astros: RHP Tayler Scott was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a thoracic spine strain. … OF Chas McCormick, on the injured list since Sept. 11 with a fractured right hand, was able to grip a bat before the game and is getting closer to taking swings.

UP NEXT

Houston RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-13, 4.68 ERA) opposes RHP Griffin Canning (6-13, 5.16 ERA) when the series concludes Sunday.

How can I watch Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros?
  • TV Channel: Angels at Astros 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on MLB.TV.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Astros: 72.0%
Angels: 28.0%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

9th Inning Stefanic struck out looking.
9th Inning Schanuel grounded into fielder's choice to second, Campero scored, Ward out at second, Lopez to third.
9th Inning Neto struck out swinging.
9th Inning Ward hit by pitch, Lopez to second, Campero to third.
9th Inning Lopez singled to center, O'Hoppe scored, Campero to second.
9th Inning Campero singled to right, O'Hoppe to third.

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/mlb/500/laa.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLAA https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/mlb/500/hou.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originHOU
1 Games Played 1
1 Team Games Played 1
1 Hit By Pitch 1
7 Ground Balls 13
16 Strikeouts 4
3 Runs Batted In 8
0 Sacrifice Hit 0
10 Hits 20
0 Stolen Bases 1
2 Walks 6
0 Catcher Interference 0
4 Runs 10
0 Ground Into Double Play 3
0 Sacrifice Flies 0
37 At Bats 41
1 Home Runs 3
0 Grand Slam Home Runs 0
21 Runners Left On Base 23
0 Triples 0
0 Game Winning RBIs 1
0 Intentional Walks 0
4 Doubles 6
14 Fly Balls 24
0 Caught Stealing 0
158 Pitches 181
0 Games Started 0
0 Pinch At Bats 1
0 Pinch Hits 1
0.0 Player Rating 0.0
1 Is Qualified 1
0 Is Qualified In Steals 1
17 Total Bases 35
40 Plate Appearances 48
162.0 Projected Home Runs 486.0
5 Extra Base Hits 9
5.6 Runs Created 15.2
.270 Batting Average .488
.000 Pinch Hit Average 1.000
.459 Slugging Percentage .854
.243 Secondary Average .537
.325 On Base Percentage .563
.784 OBP Pct + SLG Pct 1.416
0.5 Ground To Fly Ball Ratio 0.5
5.6 Runs Created Per 27 Outs 17.1
35.0 Batter Rating 78.0
37.0 At Bats Per Home Run 13.7
0.00 Stolen Base Percentage 1.00
3.95 Pitches Per Plate Appearance 3.77
.189 Isolated Power .366
0.13 Walk To Strikeout Ratio 1.50
.050 Walks Per Plate Appearance .125
-.027 Secondary Average Minus Batting Average .049
7.0 Runs Produced 18.0
0.8 Runs Ratio 0.8
0.5 Patience Ratio 0.9
0.5 Balls In Play Average 0.5
83.0 MLB Rating 127.8
0.0 Offensive Wins Above Replacement 0.0
0.0 Wins Above Replacement 0.0

Game Information

Minute Maid Park

Location: Houston, Texas
Attendance: 40,502 | Capacity:

2024 American League West Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Houston 88 73 .547 - W2
Seattle 85 77 .525 3.5 W4
Texas 78 84 .481 10.5 W3
Oakland 69 93 .426 19.5 L3
Los Angeles 63 99 .389 25.5 L6
Full Standings