Kyle Tucker had four hits, including a home run, and Jake Myers and Alex Bregman The two hit home runs and combined for six RBIs to help the Houston Astros beat the Angels. 9-7 Friday night.
The win reduced Houston’s magic number to four in the AL West.
Bregman’s two-run homer gave the Astros a 3-1 lead. Myers extended the lead to 6-1 with a three-run homer with two outs in the inning.
The Angels scored three runs in the fifth to get within 8-6 before Tucker’s solo shot into the bullpen in right-center made it 9-6. He went 4-for-5 to set a career high in hits.
Kevin Pillar, who was reinstated from the injured list on Friday, homered in the seventh inning for the Angels, but the Houston bullpen shut down the Angels the rest of the way.
Justin Verlander allowed eight hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings. It’s the third time in four games that the three-time Cy Young Award winner has allowed eight hits and at least five runs.
Hector Neris (10-5) allowed three hits and one run in 1⅓ innings to earn the win, and Josh Hader pitched a scoreless ninth in his 33rd inning.
The Astros attacked Tyler Anderson (10-14) for eight hits and six runs (three earned) in just 2 2/3 innings, his shortest start of the season.
Matt Theis, who went 0-for-34 with one out in the fourth, had two hits and drove in two runs for the Angels and Eric Wagaman He had three hits and two RBIs.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead after a sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón.
Angels rookie Gustavo Campero hit his first career triple in the third inning. He scored on Jack Lopez’s single to tie the game at 1-1.
Column walked with one out in the fourth and stole second base with two outs. Wagaman’s single to right field scored him to cut the lead to 6-2. Thais then singled for his first hit since Aug. 22. Verlander hit Camp to load the bases and Lopez singled to make it 6-3.
Bregman and Diaz hit RBI singles in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-3.
The Angels had runners on first and third with no outs in the fifth when Bregman saved a run with a leaping catch on a line drive that hit the outpost. Wagaman hit an RBI double with two outs in the inning to keep the Angels chasing Verlander.
Brian King took over and Tice singled to center field, scoring two more runs to cut the deficit to 8-6.
Injury Update: Angels reliever Charles LeBlanc was given the opportunity to pitch for Salt Lake three times to make room for Pilar on the roster.
In the future: Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco (11-6, 2.88 ERA) against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (4-7, 6.05) when the series continues Saturday night.
