HOUSTON — The bottom of the order came to the rescue for the Angels.
After getting four hits in the first 17 innings of the series against the Houston Astros, the Angels strung together four straight hits to spark a three-run rally in the ninth inning of a 4-1 victory over the Astros on Saturday night.
With one out in a tie game, Luis Rengifo, Logan O’Hoppe, Matthew Lugo and Oswald Peraza – the bottom four hitters in the order – had consecutive hits, producing two runs.
The first three were singles that loaded the bases. Peraza then launched a fly ball to the right field fence, barely eluding the grasp of outfielder Cam Smith, as two runs scored. An out later, Yoán Moncada and Mike Trout drew back-to-back walks, pushing home an insurance run.
The Angels did all the damage against Astros closer Bryan Abreu, one of the game’s best relievers.
Closer Kenley Jansen then handled the bottom of the ninth as the Angels (63-72) snapped their three-game losing streak and equaled last year’s victory total.
It was only the Angels’ third victory in their last 11 games, as their offense had fallen into a collective funk.
The Angels scored 23 runs in the previous 10 games, with a .185 average.
This game was looking no better for most of the night. Zach Neto’s 24th homer – a career high – was the Angels’ only hit in the first seven innings.
The Angels only had two at-bats with a runner in scoring position in the first eight innings, after back-to-back walks in the seventh. That was when the Angels called on Lugo to pinch-hit for Niko Kavadas, and he struck out. Travis d’Arnaud then hit for Bryce Teodosio, and he hit a flyout.
The Angels got another chance in the ninth because the pitching staff had kept them in the game.
Starter Kyle Hendricks pitched one of his best games of the season, and his best in at least a month, allowing one run in six innings.
Hendricks gave up seven hits, but he did not issue a walk.
The only run he allowed shouldn’t have scored at all. With two outs and runners at the corners in the third inning, Jesus Sanchez hit a slow chopper toward second baseman Luis Rengifo. Rengifo couldn’t come up with the ball cleanly, and it was scored an infield hit.
After Hendricks got through the sixth, Reid Detmers worked around a walk in the seventh, with the help of a double play.
Right-hander José Fermin, who hasn’t pitched in many high-leverage spots lately, entered in the eighth to face the heart of the Houston order. He retired Yordan Alvarez, José Altuve and Carlos Correa, striking out the latter two.
More to come on this story.
