Astros Complete Four-Run Ninth-Inning Comeback to Stun Angels

LaMonte Wade Jr. drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run, capping a four-run ninth inning that lifted the Houston Astros to a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in Anaheim.

The decisive rally featured just one hit—a single that did not produce a run—as Houston capitalized on a series of Angels miscues to snatch the series opener.

Taylor Trammell homered, walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored twice as the Astros won for the sixth time in seven games after trailing 4-0 through three innings. Reliever Cristian Javier (1-1) bridged the gap with five shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out seven. Josh Hader worked around two walks in the bottom of the ninth for his 13th save.

Vaughn Grissom paced Los Angeles with a 3-for-5 effort that included a home run and two RBIs. The Angels fell for the ninth time this season when leading after eight innings. Jose Fermin (3-2) was charged with three runs—one earned—while recording just one out.

Houston entered the ninth trailing 4-2. Trammell opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on Christian Walker’s single. Lucas Spence then hit a potential double-play grounder that skipped past Grissom at second, allowing Trammell to score.

The Angels appeared poised to escape when Christian Vazquez popped out on a bunt attempt and pinch-runner Nick Allen was thrown out at the plate on Jeremy Pena’s grounder to third. However, after Yordan Alvarez was intentionally walked to load the bases, reliever Sam Bachman hit Isaac Paredes with a pitch to force in the tying run, then walked Wade to make it 5-4. Bachman subsequently mishandled Jose Altuve’s comebacker, allowing Alvarez to score the final run.

Los Angeles jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Astros starter Tatsuya Imai walked Zach Neto and Mike Trout to open the game, and both runners advanced on a balk. Nolan Schanuel drove in Neto with a sacrifice fly as Trout tagged and moved to third. After Jorge Soler walked, Grissom singled home Trout.

The Angels extended the advantage to 4-0 in the third on Grissom’s seventh home run, a 395-foot drive to left-center, and Jo Adell’s RBI bloop double down the right-field line.

Houston cut the deficit to 4-1 in the fourth on Trammell’s fifth homer, a 412-foot shot into the right-center bleachers.

The Astros pulled within 4-2 in the eighth when Pena led off with a double down the left-field line and scored on Alvarez’s single, his American League-leading 78th RBI.

Source link