The Houston Astros earned their first win since returning from a neck injury on Saturday night, with Yordan Alvarez hitting a game-winning home run in the fifth inning to beat the Angels, 5-3.
Kyle Tucker added a pinch-hit homer and Jose Altuve had two hits and scored two runs as the Astros won their third straight game and stayed 4.5 games behind Seattle for second place in the American League West.
Verlander (4-6), who was 0-4 with a 9.69 ERA in four starts since returning Aug. 21 from a 2 1/2-month absence due to neck stiffness, gave up two runs and four hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out two to earn his first win since May 24 against Oakland.
Ryan Pressly pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his fourth save.
Eric Wagaman recorded his first career hit and RBI with a double in the fourth inning in his fifth game for the Angels. Angels starter Tyler Anderson (10-13) gave up seven hits and four runs in five innings.
Altuve started the game with a bunt hit and a stolen second base to give the Astros momentum, he advanced to third on a ground ball and scored on Anderson’s wild pitch.
Verlander walked the first two batters before Nolan Chanuel hit an RBI single to give the Angels their first run of the game.
Houston’s defense protected Verlander from there, and after Jake Myers made a diving catch in center field, Verlander began a hot streak that saw him get out nine of the 10 Angels batters he faced.
Astros right fielder Ben Gamel hit a single into the short right-field wall in the fourth inning, robbing Mickey Moniak of an RBI single, but Wagaman followed with an RBI double to give the Angels a 2–1 lead.
The Astros took the lead in the fifth inning when leadoff hitter Altuve singled and Alvarez hit his 34th home run, a deep right field run. With two outs, Jeremy Peña singled, stole second base and scored on a single by Victor Caratini.
The Angels came close to tying the game in the eighth inning, but Logan O’Hoppe’s RBI single saw Shanuel score from second base when he was caught by Myers at home plate, cutting Los Angeles’ lead to 4-3.
Tucker hit his 20th career home run in the ninth inning, his first since June 1 after spending an extended period on the disabled list with a broken shin.
Injury Update
Astros: Myers appeared to injure his left foot while chasing a warning fly ball by Wagaman in the ninth inning but remained in the game after being evaluated by the athletic training staff. … Outfielder Chas McCormick remains optimistic he will be able to return from a fractured right hand by the time the regular season ends Sept. 29.
Angels: Right-hander Carson Fulmer (elbow inflammation) has been on the disabled list the past two weeks but is optimistic he can return to a bullpen role by Tuesday. … Infielders Michael Stefanik (calf) and Brandon Drury (hamstring) did not play.
Next
Astros: Right-hander Ronel Blanco (10-6, 2.99 ERA) has not allowed more than two runs in any of his past three road starts.
Angels: Right-hander Cayden Dana (1-1, 9.00) made his second career start last Sunday against the Rangers but only pitched one inning.
