It looks like we had a favorable pitching matchup today.
Both lineups were kind of spotty.
Walbert Urena retired the Astros in order in the top of the first inning. Zach Neto and Mike Trout both walked to lead off the game. Zach Neto advanced to third on a balk. Nolan Schanuel hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Angels.
Vaughn Grissom then got an RBI ground ball hit to right. 2-0 Angels.
Jo Adell drew a two out walk to load the bases again and then Imai was replaced on the mound. Denzer Guzman flied out to end the inning.
Urena got through the second inning without an Astro scoring, although he gave up a couple of walks.
Vaughn Grissom homered in the bottom of the third inning to make it 3-0 Angels.
Josh Lowe reached on a throwing error and then Jo Adell doubled to make it 4-0 Angels.
The Astros did pick up a run in the fourth and a run in the eighth to bring them up to 4-2. Then Jo Adell struck out, Denzer Guzman struck out, and then Tyler Heineman struck out. “Bold strategy Cotton! Let’s see how it plays out for them.”
Jose Fermin pitched and he hit Taylor Trammell with a pitch to put a man on first with no outs. A passed ball advanced him to second. Chris Walker then singled to drive him to third. A fielder’s choice and an error by Grissom scored a run. 4-3 Angels. After a bunt pop out, Sam Bachman came in to pitch. Jeremy Pena reached on a fielder’s choice at home plate. An intentional walk (Yordan Alvarez) led to a bases loaded situation with two outs in the ninth. Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch. Tie game (grumble grumble.) LaMonte Wade Jr. walked to load the bases again and make it 5-4 Astros. Jose Altuve reached on a fielding error by Sam Bachman. 6-4 Astros.
The Angels came up in the bottom of the ninth down by two, having given up four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Zach Neto walked. Mike Trout grounded into a force out. Nolan Schanuel flied out to center. Jorge Soler walked? Oswald Peraza replaced him as a pinch runner. Vaughn Grissom grounded out to end the game.
The Angels lost 6-4. You could see it coming a mile away.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
