HOUSTON -- The Los Angeles Angels aren't where they want to be yet, but they're closer than they were at the start of the week.
David Freese hit a go-ahead two-run double in a three-run eighth inning to help the Angels rally for a 6-5 win over the Astros on Wednesday to gain ground in the AL wild-card race.
Los Angeles took two of three in the series and is 1 1/2 games behind Houston for the second AL wild-card spot.
"We're staying focused, know what we need to do, don't try to force it, just do our job and win series," slugger Albert Pujols said.
The Astros are 2 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Texas, which played later Wednesday in Oakland.
The Astros took their first lead of the game in the seventh, and the Angels trailed 4-3 entering the eighth. Mike Trout hit a leadoff double off Will Harris (5-5) before David Murphy drew a walk with one out, and Harris was replaced by Pat Neshek.
Freese's double sailed just beyond left fielder Colby Rasmus' reach on the warning track and made it 5-4.
"I started praying that the juice box was small enough for it to go off the wall," Freese said, using a nickname for Minute Maid Park. "But yeah, I clipped it, and it just went far enough out of reach of Rasmus. So it ended up being good for us."
Carlos Perez's RBI single made it 6-4 and chased Neshek.
Trevor Gott (3-2) induced the last two outs of the seventh for the win, and Huston Street allowed one run in the ninth before retiring Jed Lowrie for his 40th save.
"We're playing a lot better baseball as we made the turn into September than we did in August," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think that's important. We're doing a lot more things ... that hopefully are going to put the game on our terms and then give us a chance to hold leads."
George Springer had three RBI and Carlos Correa added two for the Astros, who are heading into a pivotal weekend series with Texas.
"We're taking a few body blows this month and we'll respond favorably, we always have," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It doesn't make tonight any easier, but we'll dust ourselves off and we know we have a big series ahead and we know we'll need to play well to win."
C.J. Cron drove in two runs in the first for the Angels, and Kole Calhoun hit a solo homer in the fifth.
Houston trailed 3-2 entering the seventh before pinch-hitter Matt Duffy legged out a single with one out and was replaced by pinch-runner Jake Marisnick. The Angels intentionally walked Jose Altuve with two outs before a triple by Springer to right field off Gott scored them both.
Houston starter Mike Fiers yielded four hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Nick Tropeano, who was traded to the Angels from Houston this offseason, allowed four hits and two runs with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: OF Carlos Gomez (intercostal strain) missed his 11th straight game. Hinch said he isn't sure when Gomez will be able to hit again, but that he could be used as a defensive replacement or pinch runner soon.
FAMOUS BEARDS
Bearded Houston Rockets star James Harden, who finished second in MVP voting in 2015, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday to Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, owner of the second most famous beard in Houston. Harden met and took pictures with Trout before the pitch and posed for pictures with Keuchel after it. He was asked what he thought about Keuchel's beard. "That's my fellow bearded brother," Harden said.
UP NEXT
Angels: The team is off on Thursday before RHP Garrett Richards (14-11, 3.73) opposes Seattle's Felix Hernandez (18-9, 3.54) in the first of three games against the Mariners. Richards, who has a career-high 14 wins this season, is 1-2 with a 3.96 ERA in four starts against Seattle this year.
Astros: Houston is also off on Thursday and opens a series with Texas on Friday when Scott Kazmir (7-10, 2.73) opposes Rangers RHP Yovani Gallardo (12-11, 3.41). Kazmir is 1-5 with a 3.70 ERA in his last 10 starts.
David Freese hit a go-ahead two-run double in a three-run eighth inning to help the Angels rally for a 6-5 win over the Astros on Wednesday to gain ground in the AL wild-card race.
Los Angeles took two of three in the series and is 1 1/2 games behind Houston for the second AL wild-card spot.
"We're staying focused, know what we need to do, don't try to force it, just do our job and win series," slugger Albert Pujols said.
The Astros are 2 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Texas, which played later Wednesday in Oakland.
The Astros took their first lead of the game in the seventh, and the Angels trailed 4-3 entering the eighth. Mike Trout hit a leadoff double off Will Harris (5-5) before David Murphy drew a walk with one out, and Harris was replaced by Pat Neshek.
Freese's double sailed just beyond left fielder Colby Rasmus' reach on the warning track and made it 5-4.
"I started praying that the juice box was small enough for it to go off the wall," Freese said, using a nickname for Minute Maid Park. "But yeah, I clipped it, and it just went far enough out of reach of Rasmus. So it ended up being good for us."
Carlos Perez's RBI single made it 6-4 and chased Neshek.
Trevor Gott (3-2) induced the last two outs of the seventh for the win, and Huston Street allowed one run in the ninth before retiring Jed Lowrie for his 40th save.
"We're playing a lot better baseball as we made the turn into September than we did in August," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think that's important. We're doing a lot more things ... that hopefully are going to put the game on our terms and then give us a chance to hold leads."
George Springer had three RBI and Carlos Correa added two for the Astros, who are heading into a pivotal weekend series with Texas.
"We're taking a few body blows this month and we'll respond favorably, we always have," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It doesn't make tonight any easier, but we'll dust ourselves off and we know we have a big series ahead and we know we'll need to play well to win."
C.J. Cron drove in two runs in the first for the Angels, and Kole Calhoun hit a solo homer in the fifth.
Houston trailed 3-2 entering the seventh before pinch-hitter Matt Duffy legged out a single with one out and was replaced by pinch-runner Jake Marisnick. The Angels intentionally walked Jose Altuve with two outs before a triple by Springer to right field off Gott scored them both.
Houston starter Mike Fiers yielded four hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Nick Tropeano, who was traded to the Angels from Houston this offseason, allowed four hits and two runs with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: OF Carlos Gomez (intercostal strain) missed his 11th straight game. Hinch said he isn't sure when Gomez will be able to hit again, but that he could be used as a defensive replacement or pinch runner soon.
FAMOUS BEARDS
Bearded Houston Rockets star James Harden, who finished second in MVP voting in 2015, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday to Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, owner of the second most famous beard in Houston. Harden met and took pictures with Trout before the pitch and posed for pictures with Keuchel after it. He was asked what he thought about Keuchel's beard. "That's my fellow bearded brother," Harden said.
UP NEXT
Angels: The team is off on Thursday before RHP Garrett Richards (14-11, 3.73) opposes Seattle's Felix Hernandez (18-9, 3.54) in the first of three games against the Mariners. Richards, who has a career-high 14 wins this season, is 1-2 with a 3.96 ERA in four starts against Seattle this year.
Astros: Houston is also off on Thursday and opens a series with Texas on Friday when Scott Kazmir (7-10, 2.73) opposes Rangers RHP Yovani Gallardo (12-11, 3.41). Kazmir is 1-5 with a 3.70 ERA in his last 10 starts.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Fiers pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Aybar lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout walked, Calhoun to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun to third, Trout to second on wild pitch by Fiers. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Murphy struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Cron singled to center, Calhoun and Trout scored, Pujols to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Freese grounded out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Altuve singled to right center. | 2 | 0 |
| Springer lined out to center. | 2 | 0 |
| Altuve stole second. | 2 | 0 |
| Correa lined out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| Lowrie flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Mike Fiers pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Pérez fouled out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| Featherston flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Aybar safe at first on error by first baseman Valbuena. | 2 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Rasmus grounded out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| Gattis struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Tucker walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Valbuena reached on infield single to third, Tucker to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Stassi walked, Tucker to third, Valbuena to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Altuve grounded into fielder's choice to third, Valbuena out at third, Stassi to second. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Mike Fiers pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Trout flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Pujols flied out to center. | 2 | 0 |
| Murphy grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Springer grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Correa grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Lowrie struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Mike Fiers pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Cron grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Freese struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Pérez walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Featherston fouled out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Rasmus struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Gattis popped out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Tucker struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Mike Fiers pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Aybar flied out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Calhoun homered to right (419 feet). | 3 | 0 |
| Trout popped out to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Stassi singled to left. | 3 | 0 |
| Altuve grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Stassi safe at third on throwing error by shortstop Aybar. | 3 | 0 |
| Springer singled to center, Stassi scored, Altuve to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Morin relieved Tropeano. | 3 | 1 |
| Correa grounded into fielder's choice to third, Altuve scored, Springer out at second. | 3 | 2 |
| Correa caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Mike Fiers pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Murphy grounded out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| Cron grounded out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| Freese struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Mike Morin pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Lowrie flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Rasmus popped out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| Gattis grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Mike Fiers pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Pérez singled to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Featherston bunted into fielder's choice to first, Pérez out at second. | 3 | 2 |
| Aybar grounded out to shortstop, Featherston to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Pérez relieved Fiers. | 3 | 2 |
| Calhoun popped out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Álvarez relieved Morin. | 3 | 2 |
| González hit for Tucker. | 3 | 2 |
| González grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Duffy hit for Valbuena. | 3 | 2 |
| Duffy reached on infield single to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Marisnick ran for Duffy. | 3 | 2 |
| Gott relieved Álvarez. | 3 | 2 |
| Singleton hit for Stassi. | 3 | 2 |
| Marisnick stole second. | 3 | 2 |
| Singleton struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| Altuve intentionally walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Springer tripled to deep right, Marisnick and Altuve scored. | 3 | 4 |
| Correa intentionally walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Lowrie grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Correa out at second. | 3 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Will Harris pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Rasmus in left field. | 3 | 4 |
| González at first base. | 3 | 4 |
| Marisnick in center field. | 3 | 4 |
| Castro catching. | 3 | 4 |
| Harris relieved Pérez. | 3 | 4 |
| Trout doubled to deep center. | 3 | 4 |
| Pujols grounded out to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Murphy walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Cowgill ran for Murphy. | 3 | 4 |
| Neshek relieved Harris. | 3 | 4 |
| Cron flied out to center. | 3 | 4 |
| Freese doubled to deep center, Trout and Cowgill scored. | 5 | 4 |
| Cowart ran for Freese. | 5 | 4 |
| Pérez singled to center, Cowart scored. | 6 | 4 |
| Sipp relieved Neshek. | 6 | 4 |
| Featherston grounded into fielder's choice to third, Pérez out at second. | 6 | 4 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Cesar Ramos pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Cowgill in left field. | 6 | 4 |
| Navarro at first base. | 6 | 4 |
| Cowart at third base. | 6 | 4 |
| Ramos relieved Gott. | 6 | 4 |
| Rasmus grounded out to first. | 6 | 4 |
| Salas relieved Ramos. | 6 | 4 |
| Gattis grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 4 |
| Carter hit for González. | 6 | 4 |
| Carter doubled to deep center. | 6 | 4 |
| Marisnick flied out to right. | 6 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Tony Sipp pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Carter at first base. | 6 | 4 |
| Aybar struck out swinging. | 6 | 4 |
| Calhoun popped out to second. | 6 | 4 |
| Fields relieved Sipp. | 6 | 4 |
| Trout doubled to left. | 6 | 4 |
| Pujols intentionally walked. | 6 | 4 |
| DeJesus hit for Cowgill. | 6 | 4 |
| DeJesus grounded out to second. | 6 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Huston Street pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Victorino in left field. | 6 | 4 |
| Street relieved Salas. | 6 | 4 |
| Castro lined out to first. | 6 | 4 |
| Altuve hit a ground rule double to deep right. | 6 | 4 |
| Springer grounded out to first, Altuve to third. | 6 | 4 |
| Correa singled to right, Altuve scored. | 6 | 5 |
| Lowrie grounded out to second. | 6 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles Angels | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Aybar SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | .269 | .302 | .329 |
| Calhoun RF | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .260 | .313 | .427 |
| Trout CF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | .294 | .397 | .587 |
| Pujols DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | .237 | .301 | .463 |
| Murphy LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | .283 | .321 | .429 |
Cowgill PR-LF
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .191 | .236 | .294 |
a-DeJesus PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .233 | .297 | .330 |
Victorino LF
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .224 | .295 | .279 |
| Cron 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .262 | .300 | .438 |
Navarro 1B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .256 | .299 | .305 |
| Freese 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 | .254 | .317 | .406 |
Cowart PR-3B
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .174 | .255 | .283 |
| Pérez C | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | .251 | .303 | .342 |
| Featherston 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .157 | .207 | .235 |
| Totals | 36 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 164 | |||
| a-grounded to second for C Cowgill in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Trout 2 (28, Harris, Fields); Freese (26, Neshek) HR: Calhoun (24, 5th inning off Fiers 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: Cron 2 (46), Calhoun (79), Freese 2 (50), Pérez (18) 2-out RBI: Cron 2, Freese 2, Pérez Angels RISP: 3-9 (Murphy 0-1, Pérez 1-1, DeJesus 0-1, Freese 1-2, Cron 1-2, Pujols 0-1, Calhoun 0-1) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Aybar (13, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX |
| Attendance | 25,573 (60.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:53 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Ted Barrett, First Base - Sam Holbrook, Second Base - Angel Hernandez, Third Base - Chris Conroy |
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