Kyle Tucker had four hits, including a home run, while Jake Meyers and Alex Bregman both added home runs and combined for six RBIs to lead the Houston Astros to a 9-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
With this victory, Houston’s magic number to clinch the AL West is now four.
Bregman hit a two-run homer in the third inning, putting the Astros ahead 3-1. Meyers then increased the lead to 6-1 with a three-run homer with two outs in the same inning.
The Angels scored three runs in the fifth, closing the gap to 8-6, but Tucker hit a solo home run to the bullpen in right-center in the sixth, making it 9-6. He finished the game 4 for 5, matching his career high for hits.
This was Tucker’s 12th game back after missing over three months due to a small fracture in his right shin.
“He had some really good at-bats,” manager Joe Espada said. “He’s on the ball. Just the quality of at-bats looks like his timing is coming.”
Kevin Pillar, who returned from the injured list on Friday, hit a solo home run in the seventh inning for the Angels, but Houston’s bullpen kept Los Angeles from scoring any more runs.
Justin Verlander allowed eight hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings. This marked the third time in four starts that the three-time Cy Young Award winner has given up eight hits and at least five runs.
He mentioned after the game that he thinks he came back too quickly from a neck injury that sidelined him for nearly two months this summer.
“I think I came back from the neck injury a little fast,” he said. “Obviously I know the schedule, I know the calendar and I want to be an asset for this team and to do that I need to be able to pitch and find out where I’m at. Obviously, the results have not been good, but there’s nothing you can do besides trying to pitch.”
Hector Neris (10-5) allowed three hits and one run in 1 1/3 innings to get the win, while Josh Hader pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 33rd save.
The Astros attacked Tyler Anderson (10-14), hitting eight times and scoring six runs—three of which were earned—in just 2 2/3 innings, marking his shortest start of the season.
Matt Thaiss, who ended a long hitless streak of 0 for 34 with a single in the fourth inning, had two hits and drove in two runs for Los Angeles. Eric Wagaman also contributed with three hits and two RBIs.
Manager Ron Washington appreciated the effort from the lower part of his lineup on Friday night. “We needed everything they did and they played hard,” he said. “We just came up short.”
The Astros were ahead 1-0 after Mauricio Dubón hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the second inning.
Angels rookie Gustavo Campero hit his first career triple with one out in the third inning, and he scored on a single by Jack López, tying the game at 1-1.
Pillar walked with one out in the fourth and stole second base with two outs. Wagaman’s single to right field brought him home, making it 6-2. Thaiss then got his first hit since August 22 with a single. Verlander hit Campero with a pitch to load the bases, and López singled again to make it 6-3.
Bregman and Díaz each hit RBI singles in the fourth, increasing the lead to 8-3.
In the fifth inning, the Angels had runners on first and third with no outs when Bregman made a leaping catch on a line drive hit by Pillar, saving a run. Wagaman then hit an RBI double with two outs, bringing Los Angeles closer at 8-4 and ending Verlander’s day on the mound.
Bryan King came in to pitch, and Thaiss singled to center field, scoring two more runs and cutting the lead to 8-6.
