Tuesday Night marked the fifth time this season that the last place Angels defeated the Astros.
Final Score LA 3 Houston 1
The Angels scored the first run of the night in the top of the third inning. Wade Meckler singled to center, stole second and came around thanks to a clutch two out RBI from Nolan Schanuel. The Astros had chances in the first. With two outs, Issac Paredes drew a walk and went to third on a single from Jose Altuve. However, each were stranded when Daulton Varsho struck out swinging.
Josh Lowe would add to the Angels lead, launching an opposite field home run in the fourth inning off Cristian Javier. It was Lowe’s 10th home run of the season. Javier would last four innings, allowing 5 hits, a pair of runs and striking out five on 87 pitches. The 87 pitches would be Javier’s highest total of the year. Bryan King would come on in relief and exit after a Nolan Schanuel single. King would give way to Enyel De Los Santos, who would promptly allow an RBI double to Zach Neto. Just like that, the Angels had posted runs in three consecutive innings.
In just his fifth major league start, George Klassen would pitch shut out baseball over seven innings, resembling Chuck Finley in his Halos prime. He’d earn the win. The Astros lone run came off the bat of Cam Smith who hit his 17 home run of the year of Jose Fermin.
One thing is for certain, the Astros are as flat as day old soda. The Mariners in 2024 sat 64-64 when they released manager Scott Servais in hopes of a jump start. That firing occurred on August 22nd of that year, so there is precedent for a late season managerial change. Of course, that move ultimately made little difference in the grand scheme of things as Seattle would miss the playoffs.
Who knows, perhaps .500 baseball or slightly above it will ultimately win the A.L. West. It’s happened before. In 2005, the Padres won their division with a mark of 82-80. Would it shock anyone if the Astros in their final stretch went 19-17, matching the mark of the Pads, albeit 21 seasons later?
Maybe newcomer Ethan Pecko can breathe some life into Daikin Park on Wednesday Night when he takes the mound. They are in need of a wakeup call. Walker’s heroics from last Friday Night already feels like a month ago.