HOUSTON -- The Los Angeles Angels never lost faith in a lineup featuring Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.
However, as their scoring drought stretched to 21 innings, they were certainly wondering when they'd get back on track.
It finally happened on Tuesday night when Pujols hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Angels a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros and snap a six-game skid.
"We have a lot of confidence in our offense," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I don't think anyone was doubting that we wouldn't get back on track. But the sooner the better."
The game was tied at 2-all with one out in the fifth when Pujols hit his second homer of the season.
"You are always pleased any time you get an opportunity to help the team win," Pujols said. "That's my job. I just put my best swing on it. I'm glad we came out with a win."
Pujols has 54 career home runs against the Astros, the most by any player against Houston. He's gone 10 for 34 after getting just one hit in his first 20 at-bats this season.
But it was Andrelton Simmons who got the Angels on the board first with his homer in the second inning. Trout also drove in a run as they scored more runs than they had in their previous four games combined.
George Springer hit his AL-leading seventh home run for the Astros, whose five-game winning streak was snapped.
Angels starter Ricky Nolasco (1-2) yielded eight hits and two runs in six innings to improve to 5-0 in six career starts against the Astros. Cam Bedrosian got the last six outs for his third save. Houston had runners at second and third with two outs before he retired Nori Aoki to end the game.
Houston starter Joe Musgrove (1-1) allowed eight hits and five runs in five innings for the loss.
"I felt like I threw the ball well tonight," he said. "Just a few mistakes and a couple balls they took advantage of. I try not to look at it as failure, I try to look at it as feedback and bounce back next time."
The homer by Simmons gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Yuli Gurriel sent the first pitch of Houston's third to the seats in left field, and the Astros took a 2-1 lead when Springer connected on his home run with one out in the inning.
Mart�n Maldonado and Yunel Escobar hit consecutive singles in the fifth before scoring on a double by Trout , which sailed just out of reach of a diving Springer to score Maldonado and tie it. Pujols then connected on his homer -- a soaring shot that landed on the train tracks atop left field -- to put Los Angeles up 5-2.
Bud Norris pitched a scoreless seventh in his first appearance at Minute Maid Park since being traded by the Astros in 2013.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: SS Carlos Correa missed his second straight game because of soreness in his right hand after he was plunked on Saturday. Correa said he felt better on Tuesday but that it was still hard to grip a bat. "It's early in the season so I don't want to be playing out there hurting right now," he said. "There's still a lot of games to play so I still want to be able to be able to play most of the game."
NO BATTING PRACTICE
The Angels didn't take batting practice on the field before Tuesday's game in an attempt by Scioscia to shake things up.
"Just trying to break the routine a little bit ... sometimes you've got to go American Legion and come out here and just play," he said with a smile.
ROSTER MOVES
Before the game, the Angels acquired C Juan Graterol from Toronto for a player to be named or cash. OF Ryan LaMarre was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Angels: J.C. Ramirez will make his fifth appearance and second start on Wednesday night. Ramirez allowed four hits and five runs in his first career start, a loss to Kansas City on April 14.
Astros: Left-hander Dallas Keuchel is scheduled for his fourth start on Wednesday. Keuchel is off to a strong start this season, going 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA and pitching seven innings in each of his first three outings.
Los Angeles Angels
However, as their scoring drought stretched to 21 innings, they were certainly wondering when they'd get back on track.
It finally happened on Tuesday night when Pujols hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Angels a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros and snap a six-game skid.
"We have a lot of confidence in our offense," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I don't think anyone was doubting that we wouldn't get back on track. But the sooner the better."
The game was tied at 2-all with one out in the fifth when Pujols hit his second homer of the season.
"You are always pleased any time you get an opportunity to help the team win," Pujols said. "That's my job. I just put my best swing on it. I'm glad we came out with a win."
Pujols has 54 career home runs against the Astros, the most by any player against Houston. He's gone 10 for 34 after getting just one hit in his first 20 at-bats this season.
But it was Andrelton Simmons who got the Angels on the board first with his homer in the second inning. Trout also drove in a run as they scored more runs than they had in their previous four games combined.
George Springer hit his AL-leading seventh home run for the Astros, whose five-game winning streak was snapped.
Angels starter Ricky Nolasco (1-2) yielded eight hits and two runs in six innings to improve to 5-0 in six career starts against the Astros. Cam Bedrosian got the last six outs for his third save. Houston had runners at second and third with two outs before he retired Nori Aoki to end the game.
Houston starter Joe Musgrove (1-1) allowed eight hits and five runs in five innings for the loss.
"I felt like I threw the ball well tonight," he said. "Just a few mistakes and a couple balls they took advantage of. I try not to look at it as failure, I try to look at it as feedback and bounce back next time."
The homer by Simmons gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Yuli Gurriel sent the first pitch of Houston's third to the seats in left field, and the Astros took a 2-1 lead when Springer connected on his home run with one out in the inning.
Mart�n Maldonado and Yunel Escobar hit consecutive singles in the fifth before scoring on a double by Trout , which sailed just out of reach of a diving Springer to score Maldonado and tie it. Pujols then connected on his homer -- a soaring shot that landed on the train tracks atop left field -- to put Los Angeles up 5-2.
Bud Norris pitched a scoreless seventh in his first appearance at Minute Maid Park since being traded by the Astros in 2013.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: SS Carlos Correa missed his second straight game because of soreness in his right hand after he was plunked on Saturday. Correa said he felt better on Tuesday but that it was still hard to grip a bat. "It's early in the season so I don't want to be playing out there hurting right now," he said. "There's still a lot of games to play so I still want to be able to be able to play most of the game."
NO BATTING PRACTICE
The Angels didn't take batting practice on the field before Tuesday's game in an attempt by Scioscia to shake things up.
"Just trying to break the routine a little bit ... sometimes you've got to go American Legion and come out here and just play," he said with a smile.
ROSTER MOVES
Before the game, the Angels acquired C Juan Graterol from Toronto for a player to be named or cash. OF Ryan LaMarre was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Angels: J.C. Ramirez will make his fifth appearance and second start on Wednesday night. Ramirez allowed four hits and five runs in his first career start, a loss to Kansas City on April 14.
Astros: Left-hander Dallas Keuchel is scheduled for his fourth start on Wednesday. Keuchel is off to a strong start this season, going 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA and pitching seven innings in each of his first three outings.
8:10PM,EDT,April 18,2017
Minute Maid Park, Houston,Texas
Minute Maid Park, Houston,Texas
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Musgrove pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Escobar singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols popped out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Springer fouled out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Reddick grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltrán flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Joe Musgrove pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Cron grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Maybin grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Simmons homered to right center (350 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Espinosa singled to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Maldonado walked, Espinosa to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Escobar flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| McCann grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| Bregman struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| González struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Joe Musgrove pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Calhoun struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| Trout lined out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Pujols grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Gurriel homered to left center (416 feet). | 1 | 1 |
| Aoki lined out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| Springer homered to center (451 feet). | 1 | 2 |
| Reddick grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Altuve reached on infield single to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Beltrán grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Joe Musgrove pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Cron grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Maybin grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Simmons singled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Espinosa struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| McCann singled to left, McCann out stretching at second. | 1 | 2 |
| Bregman lined out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| González grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Joe Musgrove pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Maldonado reached on infield single to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Escobar singled to left, Maldonado to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Calhoun struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| Trout doubled to deep right center, Maldonado scored, Escobar to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Pujols homered to left (377 feet), Escobar and Trout scored. | 5 | 2 |
| Cron popped out to first. | 5 | 2 |
| Maybin flied out to right. | 5 | 2 |
| 4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Gurriel flied out to center. | 5 | 2 |
| Aoki singled to right. | 5 | 2 |
| Springer reached on infield single to third, Aoki to second. | 5 | 2 |
| Reddick grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Springer out at second. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Michael Feliz pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Feliz relieved Musgrove. | 5 | 2 |
| Simmons struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| Espinosa struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| Maldonado singled to right. | 5 | 2 |
| Escobar walked, Maldonado to second. | 5 | 2 |
| Calhoun struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Altuve struck out looking. | 5 | 2 |
| Beltrán singled to center. | 5 | 2 |
| McCann popped out to third. | 5 | 2 |
| Bregman grounded out to pitcher. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jandel Gustave pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Gustave relieved Feliz. | 5 | 2 |
| Trout walked. | 5 | 2 |
| Pujols grounded into double play, second to first, Trout out at second. | 5 | 2 |
| Cron popped out to second. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Bud Norris pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Norris relieved Nolasco. | 5 | 2 |
| González struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| Gurriel lined out to second. | 5 | 2 |
| Aoki singled to left. | 5 | 2 |
| Springer grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Aoki out at second. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Peacock relieved Gustave. | 5 | 2 |
| Maybin fouled out to catcher. | 5 | 2 |
| Simmons struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| Espinosa struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| Álvarez relieved Norris. | 5 | 2 |
| Marisnick hit for Reddick. | 5 | 2 |
| Marisnick walked. | 5 | 2 |
| Bedrosian relieved Álvarez. | 5 | 2 |
| Altuve struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| Beltrán grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Marisnick out at second. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | LAA | HOU |
| Springer in right field. | 5 | 2 |
| Marisnick in center field. | 5 | 2 |
| Maldonado struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 2 |
| Calhoun popped out to shortstop. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Cam Bedrosian pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | HOU |
| McCann singled to center. | 5 | 2 |
| Bregman struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| González struck out swinging. | 5 | 2 |
| Gurriel doubled to left, McCann to third. | 5 | 2 |
| Aoki grounded out to pitcher. | 5 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Los Angeles Angels
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escobar 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | .300 | .364 | .400 |
| Calhoun RF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 23 | .218 | .306 | .327 |
| Trout CF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | .327 | .419 | .635 |
| Pujols DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .204 | .259 | .333 |
| Cron 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .242 | .257 | .273 |
| Maybin LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .189 | .268 | .297 |
| Simmons SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .280 | .345 | .420 |
| Espinosa 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | .208 | .232 | .377 |
| Maldonado C | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .294 | .385 | .324 |
| Totals | 35 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 153 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Trout (5, Musgrove) HR: Simmons (2, 2nd inning off Musgrove 0 on, 2 Out); Pujols (2, 5th inning off Musgrove 2 on, 1 Out) RBI: Simmons (3), Trout (11), Pujols 3 (11) 2-out RBI: Simmons GIDP: Pujols Angels RISP: 2-5 (Calhoun 0-2, Escobar 0-1, Trout 1-1, Pujols 1-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 2 (Espinosa-Simmons-Cron 2). Outfield Assist: Maybin (McCann at 2nd base). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX |
| Attendance | 21,760 (51.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:05 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - D.J. Reyburn, First Base - Mike DiMuro, Second Base - Tripp Gibson, Third Base - Brian Gorman |
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