Juan SingletonThe tiebreaking, two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning put the Houston Astros on top. 3-1 victory over Los Angeles on Thursday night.
The game was tied 1-1 when Ryan Miller (0-1) walked Jordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker to start the eighth. Jayner Diaz’s fielder’s choice grounder sent Alvarez to third.
Jeremy Pena hit a ball that rolled just outside the batter’s box before the Angels intentionally walked Victor Caratini to load the bases.
Singleton then hit a two-run double to center field, scoring Alvarez and Diaz.
Houston’s magic number has dropped to five to clinch the American League West title.
Jose Suarez He allowed three hits and one run with five strikeouts in five innings in his second start this season after spending most of the year in the Angels’ bullpen.
Yusei Kikuchi allowed five hits and one run and struck out nine in six innings as the Astros improved to 9-0 in their nine games since the July 29 trade from Toronto.
Taylor neighborhood He hit a leadoff homer for the Angels, who went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position for a two-game winning streak.
Zack Neto double with one out in the eighth and advanced to third on a groundout by Nolan Schanuel. But Brian Abreu (3-3) retired Brandon Drury on a groundout.
Josh Hader pitched a scoreless ninth for his third for 32.
Ward scored his fifth homer in the last 19 games. It was his 25th homer of the season, making him the ninth left fielder in franchise history with at least 25 and the first since 2018.
Kikuchi drove in Shanuel before Drury singled. But Kikuchi struck out the next two batters.
The Astros had just one hit when Diaz reached on Eric Wagaman’s third-base error to start the fourth. Pena’s single sent him to third and the Astros tied it when he scored on Caratini’s single.
Injury Update: Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak missed Game 4 after being hit by a batter on Sunday with a bruise on his left hand.
In the future: Houston right-hander Justin Verlander (4-6, 5.20 ERA) will face Tyler Anderson (10-13, 3.60) when the series resumes Friday night.
