ANAHEIM, Calif. -- With every start he makes, Garrett Richards looks more and more like the ace pitcher he was when his 2014 season ended abruptly because of a knee injury.
Richards took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Sunday, and the Los Angeles Angels scored all their runs in the fifth en route to a 3-1 victory that secured a four-game split with the AL West-leading Houston Astros.
Richards was 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts last season before missing the final six weeks because of a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. He was injured while covering first base on Aug. 20 at Fenway Park.
"I've put in a lot of time this offseason, and from Day One, I knew that I was going to be back within a month or so," Richards said. "And I've been moving in the right direction."
Richards (3-1) walked his first batter of the game, then retired 15 in a row before walking rookie Preston Tucker to open the sixth. The right-hander walked his first two in the seventh before striking out Colby Rasmus, but Jason Castro lined a clean single to left field on a 2-2 pitch to break up the no-hit bid.
"I don't feel like you should start thinking about something like that until you go out for the ninth inning, because there's a lot of things that can happen before then," Richards said. "So I just tried to be efficient, get ahead of the hitters and throw quality strikes."
Richards fanned Marwin Gonzalez with the bases loaded before hitting Tucker with his 110th and final pitch, forcing in a run and reducing the Angels' lead to 3-1.
Fernando Salas retired pinch-hitter Evan Gattis on a popup in short right field, with second baseman Johnny Giavotella fighting the bright sun all the way.
Richards has a 2.25 ERA in five starts, including a 4-3 loss at Houston. He fanned 10 in the rematch and walked four to win his third straight decision and help the defending AL West champions move within five games of the Astros.
"Anytime you're playing your division opponent, and they won the division last year, it would have been nice to come in here and win the series. But having a split here is not the worst thing in the world," losing pitcher Scott Feldman said.
Joe Smith pitched a perfect eighth inning and Huston Street did likewise in the ninth for his 10th save in 12 attempts, following back-to-back blown saves Wednesday and Thursday.
Feldman (2-4) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings. The right-hander, coming off his shortest outing of the season, lost his second in a row after giving up six runs and nine hits over three innings in a 7-1 home loss to Seattle.
"Sometimes it just happens where you get in one of those games where their guy was throwing great," Feldman said. "He's got some of the best stuff I've ever seen. So when he's on his game, he's pretty tough."
Chris Iannetta snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth with an infield hit that scored two runs.
Feldman went into a slide to field Iannetta's roller toward the third base line and tried for a force at the plate on David Freese, but threw the ball way over Castro's head while on the seat of his pants. The error allowed Erick Aybar to come home as well, and Kole Calhoun followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
"It was just one of those plays where you've got to go with your instinct," Feldman said. "I just tried to get there as fast as I could, but it wasn't a good throw."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: LHP Brett Oberholtzer is expected to make his season debut Wednesday night against San Francisco. He was slated to be the team's No. 3 starter before developing a blister on his index finger. ... Houston closer Luke Gregerson is expected back from the emergency family leave list on Tuesday. ... RF George Springer is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion disabled list Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Collin McHugh (4-0) is 11-0 with a 2.45 ERA over his last 14 starts. He will face the Giants for the first time in his career Tuesday night and needs a victory to tie the franchise record for consecutive wins.
Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson (1-2) will pitch Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game set with Colorado that closes out the homestand. He has allowed fewer than three runs in five of his six starts this season.
Richards took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Sunday, and the Los Angeles Angels scored all their runs in the fifth en route to a 3-1 victory that secured a four-game split with the AL West-leading Houston Astros.
Richards was 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts last season before missing the final six weeks because of a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. He was injured while covering first base on Aug. 20 at Fenway Park.
"I've put in a lot of time this offseason, and from Day One, I knew that I was going to be back within a month or so," Richards said. "And I've been moving in the right direction."
Richards (3-1) walked his first batter of the game, then retired 15 in a row before walking rookie Preston Tucker to open the sixth. The right-hander walked his first two in the seventh before striking out Colby Rasmus, but Jason Castro lined a clean single to left field on a 2-2 pitch to break up the no-hit bid.
"I don't feel like you should start thinking about something like that until you go out for the ninth inning, because there's a lot of things that can happen before then," Richards said. "So I just tried to be efficient, get ahead of the hitters and throw quality strikes."
Richards fanned Marwin Gonzalez with the bases loaded before hitting Tucker with his 110th and final pitch, forcing in a run and reducing the Angels' lead to 3-1.
Fernando Salas retired pinch-hitter Evan Gattis on a popup in short right field, with second baseman Johnny Giavotella fighting the bright sun all the way.
Richards has a 2.25 ERA in five starts, including a 4-3 loss at Houston. He fanned 10 in the rematch and walked four to win his third straight decision and help the defending AL West champions move within five games of the Astros.
"Anytime you're playing your division opponent, and they won the division last year, it would have been nice to come in here and win the series. But having a split here is not the worst thing in the world," losing pitcher Scott Feldman said.
Joe Smith pitched a perfect eighth inning and Huston Street did likewise in the ninth for his 10th save in 12 attempts, following back-to-back blown saves Wednesday and Thursday.
Feldman (2-4) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings. The right-hander, coming off his shortest outing of the season, lost his second in a row after giving up six runs and nine hits over three innings in a 7-1 home loss to Seattle.
"Sometimes it just happens where you get in one of those games where their guy was throwing great," Feldman said. "He's got some of the best stuff I've ever seen. So when he's on his game, he's pretty tough."
Chris Iannetta snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth with an infield hit that scored two runs.
Feldman went into a slide to field Iannetta's roller toward the third base line and tried for a force at the plate on David Freese, but threw the ball way over Castro's head while on the seat of his pants. The error allowed Erick Aybar to come home as well, and Kole Calhoun followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
"It was just one of those plays where you've got to go with your instinct," Feldman said. "I just tried to get there as fast as I could, but it wasn't a good throw."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: LHP Brett Oberholtzer is expected to make his season debut Wednesday night against San Francisco. He was slated to be the team's No. 3 starter before developing a blister on his index finger. ... Houston closer Luke Gregerson is expected back from the emergency family leave list on Tuesday. ... RF George Springer is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion disabled list Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Collin McHugh (4-0) is 11-0 with a 2.45 ERA over his last 14 starts. He will face the Giants for the first time in his career Tuesday night and needs a victory to tie the franchise record for consecutive wins.
Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson (1-2) will pitch Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game set with Colorado that closes out the homestand. He has allowed fewer than three runs in five of his six starts this season.
3:35PM,EDT,May 10,2015
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Houston - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Marisnick walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve grounded into fielder's choice to third, Marisnick out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Valbuena lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve to second on passed ball by Iannetta. | 0 | 0 |
| Carter struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Scott Feldman pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Calhoun struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Rasmus grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Castro grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| González grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Scott Feldman pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Joyce struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Freese doubled to deep right center. | 0 | 0 |
| Aybar grounded out to second, Freese to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Giavotella grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Tucker struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Grossman grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Marisnick struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Scott Feldman pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Cron grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Iannetta popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Altuve flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Valbuena struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Carter grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Scott Feldman pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Trout flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Joyce grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Rasmus struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Castro struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| González flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Scott Feldman pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Freese singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Aybar singled to left, Freese to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Freese to third, Aybar to second on wild pitch by Feldman. | 0 | 0 |
| Giavotella walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Iannetta reached on infield single to pitcher, Freese scored, Aybar to third, Giavotella to second, Aybar scored, Giavotella to third on throwing error by pitcher Feldman. | 0 | 2 |
| Calhoun hit sacrifice fly to left, Giavotella scored. | 0 | 3 |
| Trout singled to right center, Iannetta to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Pujols struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Tucker walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Grossman struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Marisnick struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Altuve grounded out to first. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Scott Feldman pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Joyce grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 3 |
| Freese grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 3 |
| Aybar reached on bunt single to pitcher. | 0 | 3 |
| Aybar to second on wild pitch by Feldman. | 0 | 3 |
| Giavotella grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Valbuena walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Carter walked, Valbuena to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Rasmus struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Castro singled to left, Valbuena to third, Carter to second. | 0 | 3 |
| González struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Tucker hit by pitch, Valbuena scored, Carter to third, Castro to second. | 1 | 3 |
| Gattis hit for Grossman. | 1 | 3 |
| Salas relieved Richards. | 1 | 3 |
| Gattis popped out to second. | 1 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Scott Feldman pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Villar in left field. | 1 | 3 |
| Cron lined out to left. | 1 | 3 |
| Iannetta struck out swinging. | 1 | 3 |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Joe Smith pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| J. Smith relieved Salas. | 1 | 3 |
| Marisnick grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Altuve lined out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Valbuena lined out to pitcher. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Josh Fields pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Fields relieved Feldman. | 1 | 3 |
| Trout walked. | 1 | 3 |
| Pujols struck out swinging. | 1 | 3 |
| Trout caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Joyce popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Huston Street pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Cowgill in left field. | 1 | 3 |
| Street relieved J. Smith. | 1 | 3 |
| Carter struck out swinging. | 1 | 3 |
| Rasmus popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Castro grounded out to second. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston Astros | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Marisnick CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 | .319 | .364 | .516 |
| Altuve 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .338 | .390 | .489 |
| Valbuena 3B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .202 | .270 | .421 |
| Carter 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 22 | .151 | .256 | .302 |
| Rasmus RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .239 | .314 | .511 |
| Castro C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .220 | .293 | .354 |
| González SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .242 | .254 | .394 |
| Tucker DH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | .100 | .357 | .100 |
| Grossman LF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | .152 | .235 | .261 |
a-Gattis PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .183 | .211 | .394 |
Villar LF
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .182 | .250 | .182 |
| Totals | 28 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 132 | |||
| a-popped out to second for R Grossman in the 7th | ||||||||||
| BATTING RBI: Tucker (2) 2-out RBI: Tucker Astros RISP: 1-5 (Castro 1-1, González 0-1, Carter 0-1, Gattis 0-1, Rasmus 0-1) Team LOB: 5 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Feldman (1, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 30,929 (68% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:40 |
| Weather | 73 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 2 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Gabe Morales, First Base - Joe West, Second Base - Kerwin Danley, Third Base - Rob Drake |
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