The 2025 Angels take the field intent on doing 2 things: striking out and hitting dingers. Today was no exception.
After falling behind 2-0 after three innings, the dingers part of the equation kicked in. First Zach Neto extended his career high HR mark with a solo shot to get the Angels on the board.
Mike Trout followed with a single that was absolutely roped. In most ballparks it would have been a double, but in Houston it bounced off the high wall and perfectly to the left fielder. A runner on base meant the next dinger put up a crooked number. Really, any ball hammered this hard should net a crooked number.
The 3-2 lead didn’t last long. Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi was squeezed on a first pitch strike to start off the bottom of the 4th. He brought the next couple of pitches up just a bit and one was roped for a double. The next went for a game tying single. By the time the inning was over, Houston had tied the game. Another run in the bottom of the 5th put the Astros up 4-3.
Kikuchi had a subpar game today but it wasn’t horrible. In 5.2 innings he struck out 6 and only walked 2 but he got hit around quite a bit. Houston racked up 8 hits against him to go with the 4 runs. Ultimately he was charged with a 5th earned run after Chase Silseth inherited Cam Smith at first base with 2 outs and allowed him to score.
Houston activated their Luis Garcia today and he pitched pretty well overall. He did allow the 2 home runs but he also struck out 6 Angels and only allowed 3 hits in 6 innings. Garcia also did not walk a batter. Houston has the far better Luis Garcia.
Down 5-3 heading to the 8th inning the Angels needed another dinger. Logan O’Hoppe popped a single then a rocket off the bat of Zach Neto looked to be that needed dinger. But it went inches foul and the Angels stranded O’Hoppe.
Houston added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th inning when Cam Smith came around to score after he should have been picked off trying to steal second base. A communication error by Neto and Chris Taylor allowed Smith to reach second safely and he scored with 2 outs in the inning. Defense has been an issue with the Angels all season. Houston ran wild all day, stealing 4 bases.
By the time diminutive cheater Jose Altuve’s 2 run blast opened up the score, the game was over. An 8-3 lead was just as insurmountable as 6-3 but did further damage to the Angels run differential.
A split in Houston really isn’t bad. Now it is on to Kansas City for 3 games.
