"I knew it was an out or a homer," Simmons said.
The ball eventually went over a leaping Josh Reddick, giving Simmons a three-run shot that capped a late comeback and sent the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-6 victory Saturday night.
Los Angeles trailed 6-1 in the seventh before rallying to snap a three-game skid. The Angels and Seattle Mariners are a half-game behind Minnesota in a packed race for the second AL wild card.
Kole Calhoun singled home Mike Trout with two outs in the eighth to make it 6-4. Simmons then slipped and finished his swing on one knee but still drove Clippard's slider over the left-field fence, sending Angel Stadium fans into a frenzy amid fireworks over center field.
"This team never quits," Calhoun said. "We needed a big swing of the bat and we got it."
Trout worked a two-out walk and went to third on a single by Albert Pujols against Francis Martes. Clippard (2-8) gave up Calhoun's single before Simmons connected on the next pitch.
"It was just a good pitch to hit. Just a pitch up in the zone. It kind of went down a little more than I thought, but I saw it pretty decent," Simmons said. "I was fortunate to not miss it."
Blake Wood (2-4) worked a hitless inning and Blake Parker got three outs for his second save.
"Definitely a huge win," Calhoun said.
Before the eighth, the Astros appeared to be cruising.
Jake Marisnick and George Springer homered to back Brad Peacock's six strong innings as the AL West leaders raced out to a five-run lead.
Marisnick's home run, a golf shot in the fourth that made the score 5-1, came off starter Tyler Skaggs. Springer's drive came in the seventh off reliever Bud Norris and made it 6-1. Meanwhile, Peacock struck out eight.
Calhoun hit a solo homer in the second. Los Angeles scraped across two runs in the seventh to make it 6-3.
Skaggs got himself into trouble in the second when he allowed a single to Brian McCann and a double to Marisnick.
McCann scored on Skaggs' balk and then Marisnick scored on an error by third baseman Luis Valbuena. By the end of the inning, Houston led 4-0.
Josh Reddick hit a two-run single in the first for the Astros.
TRAVEL PLANS
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the plan was for Houston to leave Anaheim on Sunday but he wasn't sure where the team would go with Hurricane Harvey hitting the Texas coast.
"Monday being off gives us the leeway to really do the best and safest route," he said. "As far as Tuesday goes, from all I know everything is OK, but I know the brunt of the storm is supposed to maybe hit over the next couple of days."
GUERRERO HONORED
Before the game, the Angels inducted Vladimir Guerrero into their Hall of Fame. Guerrero won the 2004 AL MVP award with the Angels and played 846 games with the franchise from 2004-09. "I'm very happy. It's a great honor for me," he said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: Hinch said Carlos Correa (thumb) was expected to play shortstop Saturday for Triple-A Fresno. The plan is for Correa to be the DH on Sunday for Fresno. The star slugger has been out since July 17. ... RHP Will Harris (shoulder) returned to the team but was not activated. Harris allowed two runs and two hits in one inning Friday for Fresno. ... RHP Lance McCullers (back discomfort) will need another rehab outing, according to Hinch. McCullers allowed three runs in three innings Friday for Fresno.
Angels: Manager Mike Scioscia said RHP Garrett Richards is expected to throw Wednesday for Triple-A Salt Lake. Richards has pitched in only one major league game all season because of a biceps strain. ... Scioscia said the team was looking at "early next week" to determine a rehab assignment for 3B Yunel Escobar (oblique).
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Charlie Morton (10-6, 3.81 ERA) will look to rebound from his last start, a 10-6 loss to Washington. He is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in his career against the Angels.
Angels: RHP Ricky Nolasco (6-12, 5.05) is scheduled to start Sunday. He is 7-2 with a 3.63 ERA against the Astros, including 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts this season.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
The ball eventually went over a leaping Josh Reddick, giving Simmons a three-run shot that capped a late comeback and sent the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-6 victory Saturday night.
Los Angeles trailed 6-1 in the seventh before rallying to snap a three-game skid. The Angels and Seattle Mariners are a half-game behind Minnesota in a packed race for the second AL wild card.
Kole Calhoun singled home Mike Trout with two outs in the eighth to make it 6-4. Simmons then slipped and finished his swing on one knee but still drove Clippard's slider over the left-field fence, sending Angel Stadium fans into a frenzy amid fireworks over center field.
"This team never quits," Calhoun said. "We needed a big swing of the bat and we got it."
Trout worked a two-out walk and went to third on a single by Albert Pujols against Francis Martes. Clippard (2-8) gave up Calhoun's single before Simmons connected on the next pitch.
"It was just a good pitch to hit. Just a pitch up in the zone. It kind of went down a little more than I thought, but I saw it pretty decent," Simmons said. "I was fortunate to not miss it."
Blake Wood (2-4) worked a hitless inning and Blake Parker got three outs for his second save.
"Definitely a huge win," Calhoun said.
Before the eighth, the Astros appeared to be cruising.
Jake Marisnick and George Springer homered to back Brad Peacock's six strong innings as the AL West leaders raced out to a five-run lead.
Marisnick's home run, a golf shot in the fourth that made the score 5-1, came off starter Tyler Skaggs. Springer's drive came in the seventh off reliever Bud Norris and made it 6-1. Meanwhile, Peacock struck out eight.
Calhoun hit a solo homer in the second. Los Angeles scraped across two runs in the seventh to make it 6-3.
Skaggs got himself into trouble in the second when he allowed a single to Brian McCann and a double to Marisnick.
McCann scored on Skaggs' balk and then Marisnick scored on an error by third baseman Luis Valbuena. By the end of the inning, Houston led 4-0.
Josh Reddick hit a two-run single in the first for the Astros.
TRAVEL PLANS
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the plan was for Houston to leave Anaheim on Sunday but he wasn't sure where the team would go with Hurricane Harvey hitting the Texas coast.
"Monday being off gives us the leeway to really do the best and safest route," he said. "As far as Tuesday goes, from all I know everything is OK, but I know the brunt of the storm is supposed to maybe hit over the next couple of days."
GUERRERO HONORED
Before the game, the Angels inducted Vladimir Guerrero into their Hall of Fame. Guerrero won the 2004 AL MVP award with the Angels and played 846 games with the franchise from 2004-09. "I'm very happy. It's a great honor for me," he said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: Hinch said Carlos Correa (thumb) was expected to play shortstop Saturday for Triple-A Fresno. The plan is for Correa to be the DH on Sunday for Fresno. The star slugger has been out since July 17. ... RHP Will Harris (shoulder) returned to the team but was not activated. Harris allowed two runs and two hits in one inning Friday for Fresno. ... RHP Lance McCullers (back discomfort) will need another rehab outing, according to Hinch. McCullers allowed three runs in three innings Friday for Fresno.
Angels: Manager Mike Scioscia said RHP Garrett Richards is expected to throw Wednesday for Triple-A Salt Lake. Richards has pitched in only one major league game all season because of a biceps strain. ... Scioscia said the team was looking at "early next week" to determine a rehab assignment for 3B Yunel Escobar (oblique).
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Charlie Morton (10-6, 3.81 ERA) will look to rebound from his last start, a 10-6 loss to Washington. He is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in his career against the Angels.
Angels: RHP Ricky Nolasco (6-12, 5.05) is scheduled to start Sunday. He is 7-2 with a 3.63 ERA against the Astros, including 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts this season.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Houston - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Skaggs pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Springer grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Bregman singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve grounded out to third, Bregman to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Gurriel walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Reddick singled to center, Bregman and Gurriel scored. | 2 | 0 |
| Beltrán flied out to center. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Maybin struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Trout popped out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Pujols struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Tyler Skaggs pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Davis grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| McCann singled to center. | 2 | 0 |
| Marisnick doubled to right, McCann to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Springer popped out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| McCann scored, Marisnick to third on balk by Skaggs. | 3 | 0 |
| Bregman safe at first on error by third baseman Valbuena, Marisnick scored. | 4 | 0 |
| Altuve grounded into fielder's choice to third, Bregman out at second. | 4 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Calhoun homered to right center (385 feet). | 4 | 1 |
| Simmons grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Cron flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Tyler Skaggs pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Gurriel lined out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Reddick grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Beltrán struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Maldonado grounded out to first. | 4 | 1 |
| Cowart struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Maybin walked. | 4 | 1 |
| Maybin stole second. | 4 | 1 |
| Trout struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Skaggs pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Davis struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| McCann grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Marisnick homered to left center (422 feet). | 5 | 1 |
| Springer flied out to center. | 5 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Pujols singled to right. | 5 | 1 |
| Calhoun grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, Pujols out at second. | 5 | 1 |
| Simmons popped out to first. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Skaggs pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Bregman grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| Altuve struck out looking. | 5 | 1 |
| Gurriel doubled to deep center. | 5 | 1 |
| Gurriel to third on wild pitch by Skaggs. | 5 | 1 |
| Reddick walked. | 5 | 1 |
| Beltrán grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Valbuena singled to center. | 5 | 1 |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Maldonado struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Cowart grounded out to first. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Álvarez relieved Skaggs. | 5 | 1 |
| Davis flied out to right. | 5 | 1 |
| McCann popped out to third. | 5 | 1 |
| Marisnick struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Brad Peacock pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Maybin struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Trout flied out to right. | 5 | 1 |
| Pujols flied out to left. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Bud Norris pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Norris relieved Álvarez. | 5 | 1 |
| Springer homered to left center (402 feet). | 6 | 1 |
| Bregman singled to center. | 6 | 1 |
| Bregman stole second. | 6 | 1 |
| Altuve grounded out to second, Bregman to third. | 6 | 1 |
| Gurriel grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 1 |
| Reddick lined out to first. | 6 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Francisco Liriano pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Liriano relieved Peacock. | 6 | 1 |
| Calhoun singled to center. | 6 | 1 |
| Simmons doubled to second, Calhoun to third. | 6 | 1 |
| Valbuena grounded out to second, Calhoun scored, Simmons to third. | 6 | 2 |
| Martes relieved Liriano. | 6 | 2 |
| Cron grounded out to shortstop, Simmons scored. | 6 | 3 |
| Maldonado struck out looking. | 6 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Blake Wood pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Wood relieved Norris. | 6 | 3 |
| Beltrán flied out to right. | 6 | 3 |
| Davis struck out looking. | 6 | 3 |
| McCann grounded out to second. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Francis Martes pitching for Houston | HOU | LAA |
| Cowart grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 3 |
| Maybin struck out looking. | 6 | 3 |
| Trout walked. | 6 | 3 |
| Pujols singled to center, Trout to third. | 6 | 3 |
| Clippard relieved Martes. | 6 | 3 |
| Calhoun singled to right center, Trout scored, Pujols to third. | 6 | 4 |
| Simmons homered to left center (372 feet), Pujols and Calhoun scored. | 6 | 7 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 6 | 7 |
| 4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Blake Parker pitching for Los Angeles | HOU | LAA |
| Parker relieved Wood. | 6 | 7 |
| Marisnick flied out to right. | 6 | 7 |
| Springer flied out to right. | 6 | 7 |
| Bregman struck out swinging. | 6 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston Astros | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Springer RF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | .295 | .369 | .553 |
| Bregman SS | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | .287 | .363 | .492 |
| Altuve 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .355 | .415 | .559 |
| Gurriel 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .289 | .318 | .473 |
| Reddick LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 22 | .302 | .348 | .471 |
| Beltrán DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .238 | .291 | .403 |
| Davis 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .176 | .282 | .412 |
| McCann C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .233 | .315 | .404 |
| Marisnick CF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .256 | .329 | .526 |
| Totals | 36 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 153 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Marisnick (10, Skaggs); Gurriel (35, Skaggs) HR: Marisnick (16, 4th inning off Skaggs 0 on, 2 Out); Springer (29, 7th inning off Norris 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Reddick 2 (65), Marisnick (35), Springer (71) 2-out RBI: Reddick 2, Marisnick Astros RISP: 1-7 (Altuve 0-1, Springer 0-1, Reddick 1-2, Gurriel 0-1, Beltrán 0-1, Bregman 0-1) Team LOB: 5 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Bregman (14, 2nd base off Norris/Maldonado) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Peacock-Bregman-Gurriel). | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| The game is underway after a 36 minute delay. |
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 41,101 (90.3% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:01 |
| Weather | 82 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 7 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Doug Eddings, First Base - Jeff Nelson, Second Base - Cory Blaser, Third Base - Laz Diaz |
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