ANAHEIM, Calif. -- At the moment, the Los Angeles Angels have their sights set on overtaking two teams in the race for the AL's second wild card berth.
But with the West-leading Houston Astros in town for a three-game series, and another three-game set at Minute Maid Park during the third week of September, the Angels don't mind giving the impression that they are aiming higher.
On Friday night, the Angels parlayed a fielding error by Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel into three unearned runs in the second inning and went on to beat Houston 3-2, putting them within 4 1-2 games of first place.
"It's obviously an important series, and the only way we get these guys where we need them is to beat them," winning pitcher Jered Weaver said. "We don't have to scoreboard watch when when they're on our field, so it's a big win. Hopefully we can take another two out of this series and make things pretty interesting."
Weaver (7-10) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked two en route to his 138th career victory, which tied Nolan Ryan for second place on the Angels' career list behind Chuck Finley's 165.
"I'm just making strides to get back to where I know I can be, and I felt good tonight," Weaver said after his seventh start off the disabled list. "Obviously, going up against a guy like Dallas, you know runs are going to be scarce. So I just tried to bear down and limit runners. We were able to scratch out three runs in the second and were able to hold them off after that."
The last time Weaver faced Houston, he beat them 2-0 with a complete-game six-hitter on May 8 at the "Big A."
"This is a tough place to play and Weaver has our number. So I knew going in I was going to have be pretty good," Keuchel (17-7) said. "I thought I was pretty good -- except for that one play."
The left-hander, who last year became the first Astros pitcher ever to win a Gold Glove, committed his first error in 62 chances this season and the Angels turned it into a three-run second inning.
"With a guy like Keuchel, on the mound, there's not many mistakes that he's going to make," Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun said. "He's had an unbelievable season and they've been playing well, so we've got to go out and battle every pitch."
Keuchel jumped about a foot off the mound to field a comebacker by Taylor Featherston and misplayed it, loading the bases after a one-out double by Erick Aybar and a two-out walk to Carlos Perez.
"It's a routine play that I just botched. I mean I can't really say anything else," Keuchel said. "It had a lot of topspin. It's not like I haven't made that play before. That was the difference in the game -- a routine play that I missed and that was the difference. So it's frustrating and it doesn't sit very well. It's a tough one to swallow."
Aybar came home on a wild pitch -- the 17th run the Angels have scored that way this season -- and Calhoun followed with a two-run single that increased his career-high RBI total to 75.
The Astros closed to 3-2 in the sixth on Carlos Gomez's fourth homer, a towering drive to left-center after Weaver walked Carlos Correa with one out and got behind Gomez 2-0. Weaver struck out the next two batters before manager Mike Scioscia went to the bullpen.
Fernando Salas and Joe Smith each pitched a hitless inning and Huston Street retired the side in order in the ninth for his 34th save in 38 attempts. The Angels remained three games behind Texas and two behind Minnesota in the race for the second wild card spot.
Keuchel gave up five hits through six innings, struck out seven and walked two.
A SLICE OF HISTORY
Jose Altuve doubled in the first inning for his 800th hit in 647 big league games, making him the fastest to reach that figure in Astros' history. The previous mark was held by Cesar Cedeno (707), who needed one fewer game than Jeff Bagwell.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: RHP Scott Feldman was diagnosed with a sprained right shoulder after undergoing an MRI in Houston on Thursday, and is done for the season. The 11-year veteran, in the second year of a three-year, $30 million deal, was 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 18 starts.
UP NEXT
Astros: Rookie RHP Lance McCullers (5-5) is 1/3 with a 4.15 ERA over his last eight starts. The only victory during that stretch was a 6-3 decision against the Angels.
Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (8-9) held Texas to one hit over six innings last Sunday in a 7-0 home win, following a stretch of eight starts in which he was 0-5 with a 6.46 ERA.
But with the West-leading Houston Astros in town for a three-game series, and another three-game set at Minute Maid Park during the third week of September, the Angels don't mind giving the impression that they are aiming higher.
On Friday night, the Angels parlayed a fielding error by Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel into three unearned runs in the second inning and went on to beat Houston 3-2, putting them within 4 1-2 games of first place.
"It's obviously an important series, and the only way we get these guys where we need them is to beat them," winning pitcher Jered Weaver said. "We don't have to scoreboard watch when when they're on our field, so it's a big win. Hopefully we can take another two out of this series and make things pretty interesting."
Weaver (7-10) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked two en route to his 138th career victory, which tied Nolan Ryan for second place on the Angels' career list behind Chuck Finley's 165.
"I'm just making strides to get back to where I know I can be, and I felt good tonight," Weaver said after his seventh start off the disabled list. "Obviously, going up against a guy like Dallas, you know runs are going to be scarce. So I just tried to bear down and limit runners. We were able to scratch out three runs in the second and were able to hold them off after that."
The last time Weaver faced Houston, he beat them 2-0 with a complete-game six-hitter on May 8 at the "Big A."
"This is a tough place to play and Weaver has our number. So I knew going in I was going to have be pretty good," Keuchel (17-7) said. "I thought I was pretty good -- except for that one play."
The left-hander, who last year became the first Astros pitcher ever to win a Gold Glove, committed his first error in 62 chances this season and the Angels turned it into a three-run second inning.
"With a guy like Keuchel, on the mound, there's not many mistakes that he's going to make," Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun said. "He's had an unbelievable season and they've been playing well, so we've got to go out and battle every pitch."
Keuchel jumped about a foot off the mound to field a comebacker by Taylor Featherston and misplayed it, loading the bases after a one-out double by Erick Aybar and a two-out walk to Carlos Perez.
"It's a routine play that I just botched. I mean I can't really say anything else," Keuchel said. "It had a lot of topspin. It's not like I haven't made that play before. That was the difference in the game -- a routine play that I missed and that was the difference. So it's frustrating and it doesn't sit very well. It's a tough one to swallow."
Aybar came home on a wild pitch -- the 17th run the Angels have scored that way this season -- and Calhoun followed with a two-run single that increased his career-high RBI total to 75.
The Astros closed to 3-2 in the sixth on Carlos Gomez's fourth homer, a towering drive to left-center after Weaver walked Carlos Correa with one out and got behind Gomez 2-0. Weaver struck out the next two batters before manager Mike Scioscia went to the bullpen.
Fernando Salas and Joe Smith each pitched a hitless inning and Huston Street retired the side in order in the ninth for his 34th save in 38 attempts. The Angels remained three games behind Texas and two behind Minnesota in the race for the second wild card spot.
Keuchel gave up five hits through six innings, struck out seven and walked two.
A SLICE OF HISTORY
Jose Altuve doubled in the first inning for his 800th hit in 647 big league games, making him the fastest to reach that figure in Astros' history. The previous mark was held by Cesar Cedeno (707), who needed one fewer game than Jeff Bagwell.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: RHP Scott Feldman was diagnosed with a sprained right shoulder after undergoing an MRI in Houston on Thursday, and is done for the season. The 11-year veteran, in the second year of a three-year, $30 million deal, was 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 18 starts.
UP NEXT
Astros: Rookie RHP Lance McCullers (5-5) is 1/3 with a 4.15 ERA over his last eight starts. The only victory during that stretch was a 6-3 decision against the Angels.
Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (8-9) held Texas to one hit over six innings last Sunday in a 7-0 home win, following a stretch of eight starts in which he was 0-5 with a 6.46 ERA.
10:05PM,EDT,September 11,2015
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Springer grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve doubled to deep left center. | 0 | 0 |
| Correa reached on infield single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Gómez flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve stole third, Correa stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Lowrie popped out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Calhoun singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun to second on wild pitch by Keuchel. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols grounded out to shortstop, Calhoun to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Rasmus grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Valbuena grounded out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| González reached on bunt single to first. | 0 | 0 |
| González caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Freese struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Aybar doubled to deep left. | 0 | 0 |
| Victorino struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Pérez walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Featherston safe at first on error by pitcher Keuchel, Aybar to third, Pérez to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Aybar scored, Pérez to third, Featherston to second on wild pitch by Keuchel. | 0 | 1 |
| Calhoun singled to left, Pérez and Featherston scored. | 0 | 3 |
| Trout walked, Calhoun to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Pujols struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Conger struck out looking. | 0 | 3 |
| Springer singled to center. | 0 | 3 |
| Altuve grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Springer out at second. | 0 | 3 |
| Correa fouled out to right. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Cron grounded out to third. | 0 | 3 |
| Freese singled to right. | 0 | 3 |
| Aybar grounded into fielder's choice to first, Freese out at second. | 0 | 3 |
| Victorino singled to right, Aybar thrown out at home. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Gómez popped out to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Lowrie flied out to center. | 0 | 3 |
| Rasmus walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Pérez grounded out to first. | 0 | 3 |
| Featherston popped out to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| González struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Conger struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Springer struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Trout lined out to center. | 0 | 3 |
| Pujols grounded out to third. | 0 | 3 |
| Cron popped out to second. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jered Weaver pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Altuve flied out to center. | 0 | 3 |
| Correa walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Gómez homered to center (433 feet), Correa scored. | 2 | 3 |
| Lowrie struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Rasmus struck out looking. | 2 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Freese lined out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Aybar struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Victorino struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Fernando Salas pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Salas relieved Weaver. | 2 | 3 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| González struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Conger flied out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Josh Fields pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Fields relieved Keuchel. | 2 | 3 |
| Pérez popped out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Featherston lined out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Joe Smith pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Cowart at third base. | 2 | 3 |
| Smith relieved Salas. | 2 | 3 |
| Springer hit by pitch. | 2 | 3 |
| Altuve grounded into double play, shortstop to first, Springer out at second. | 2 | 3 |
| Correa struck out looking. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Pat Neshek pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Neshek relieved Fields. | 2 | 3 |
| Trout walked. | 2 | 3 |
| Pujols grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Trout out at second. | 2 | 3 |
| Cron singled to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Robertson ran for Cron. | 2 | 3 |
| Cowart grounded out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Huston Street pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Navarro at first base. | 2 | 3 |
| Street relieved Smith. | 2 | 3 |
| Gómez grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 3 |
| Lowrie lined out to left. | 2 | 3 |
| Rasmus struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston Astros | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Springer RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .257 | .359 | .437 |
| Altuve 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .310 | .351 | .427 |
| Correa SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .274 | .341 | .498 |
| Gómez CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .239 | .283 | .387 |
| Lowrie 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | .236 | .328 | .444 |
| Rasmus LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 22 | .228 | .300 | .452 |
| Valbuena DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .209 | .295 | .410 |
| González 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | .282 | .318 | .440 |
| Conger C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .218 | .307 | .436 |
| Totals | 30 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 137 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Altuve (29, Weaver) HR: Gómez (4, 6th inning off Weaver 1 on, 1 Out) RBI: Gómez 2 (13) GIDP: Altuve Astros RISP: 1-3 (Gómez 0-1, Lowrie 0-1, Correa 1-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Altuve (37, 3rd base off Weaver/Pérez); Correa (12, 2nd base off Weaver/Pérez) CS: González (5, 2nd base by Weaver/Pérez) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Keuchel (1, ground ball) DP: 1 (Correa-Altuve-González). Outfield Assist: Springer (Aybar at Home). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 39,636 (87.1% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:43 |
| Weather | 82 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 9 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Alfonso Marquez, First Base - Tom Hallion, Second Base - Dan Bellino, Third Base - Bruce Dreckman |
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