Nolan Schanuel and Logan O’Hoppe hit three-run homers, and Jo Adell added a solo shot as the Los Angeles Angels scored seven runs in the fifth inning to secure a 9-7 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
Zach Neto’s home run in the sixth inning marked the Angels’ season-high fourth home run as they won for the fourth time in five games. It’s the first instance in team history that the Angels have had four players aged 25 or younger homer in the same game.
“They’re growing up,” manager Ron Washington said. “They’re starting to figure things out. They really didn’t try to do too much and they ended up doing a lot. And that’s what it’s about.”
Trailing by five with two on and one out in the fifth, Schanuel homered to cut the lead to 6-4. Then, with two on and two outs, O’Hoppe’s homer put Los Angeles up 7-6. Adell followed with another homer to make it 8-6.
Framber Valdez (3-2) gave up a season-high 10 hits and tied a career-high by allowing eight runs in five innings.
“He just kind of was lost, started leaving some pitches in the heart of the plate and they put some really good swings on them,” manager Joe Espada said. “His stuff was really good… just that fifth inning he kind of lost the feel for the zone.”
Rafael Montero, who took over in the sixth, was greeted with a homer by Neto, extending the Angels’ lead to 9-6. Houston took an early 6-1 lead after home runs by Jose Altuve and Mauricio Dubón before Los Angeles’ big inning.
Reid Detmers allowed eight hits and six runs in four innings. José Suarez (1-0) earned the win, striking out one in two scoreless innings.
In addition to his home run, Adell made a spectacular defensive play by robbing Yainer Diaz of a home run in the ninth inning, drawing cheers from his teammates.
