Astros complete mini-sweep of 2-game series with a 4-1 win.
WP: Collin McHugh (8-9)
LP: Jered Weaver (15-8)
SV: Chad Qualls (17)
contributed by Sphinx Drummond
Chris Carter has become a monster. He’s a threat to hit a home run every time he comes to the plate. He set the Astros franchise record for multihomer games in a season Wednesday with his seventh. His current total of 35 is the most homers by an Astros player since Lance Berkman hit 45 in 2006. His strike outs are down too.
The Astros scored first in the second inning when Chris Carter lead off with a solo shot to LF. The Angels quickly came back to tie the game with a run of their own in the top of the third. Dexter Fowler walked with one out in the fourth and stole second with two outs. Jason Castro’s single scored Fowler to put Houston up 2-1.
The Astros entered the bottom of the 8th with a measly one run lead and following a Marwin Gonzalez line out to left field, Jose Altuve scalded one to left for a double. Dexter Fowler popped out to short and Altuve advanced to third on a balk. Chris Carter, the next batter, smacked his second homer of the game to give the Astros a 4-1 lead.
Collin McHugh pitched a fine game, allowing only 4 hits through 7.2 innings. He struck out 8 and allowed only one run to score. Jose Veras got his man to finish the top of the 8th inning and Chad Qualls was perfect to close the 9th, for his 17th save of the year.
Tom Lawless still doesn’t know the bitter taste of defeat.
Thursday is a travel day. The Good Guys head to the San Francisco Bay Area where they will continue to play the spoiler when they take on the Oakland Athletics on Friday. Hope the team’s vaccinations are up to date, the Oakland Coliseum has plumbing problems and the Samardzija virus takes the hill against Brett Olberholtzer at 8:05 PM CST.
Attendance – 16949
Game Time – 2:37
Temperature – 73