The Houston Astros are starting to hear footsteps and, if they do not figure out a way to win on the road, they could find themselves out of the American League West lead before they make it back home.
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McCullers’ only victory in his last nine starts was a 6-3 decision over the Angels on July 29 at Minute Maid Park.
With fans chanting “Sweep! Sweep!” Tucker, a former Plant Excessive standout, hit a fastball into the stands. “But the (long ones), I love ’em”. They are 4-1 as the favorite over their last 10 games.
“Nobody’s going to let up and nobody’s going to feel sorry for us, so right now we’re just going to have to fight back and keep pushing”, Astros catcher Hank Conger said. If it was hit a few inches shorter, Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun would have caught it (which would have made for a heck of an ending).
The Astros’ Jose Altuve, left, and Carlos Correa, center, celebrate… Featherston wasn’t able to make the throw for third out. The right fielder reached into the crowd and came up empty, sending the Houston dugout into a wild celebration.
Joe Smith (5-5) pitched a scoreless eighth and Huston Street worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 35th save in 39 attempts.
“I was pretty frustrated afterward, more in disbelief”, Street said.
“It’s a brutal loss, the way that it happened”, said Street, the man who lost it. “The changeup to Lowrie was a bad pitch, probably the only bad pitch in the entire inning”.
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hit his MLB-leading 42nd home run as Baltimore tagged Johnny Cueto for eight runs – seven earned – on the strength of four home runs in an 8-2 win against the Royals.
Brutal, as Street put it, might be the best way to describe the way the script flipped in the ninth inning.
Mike Trouts had one home run and C.J. Cron had two, but all three were solo shots and it wound up not being enough. Just last week, they continued their good play against Houston, winning a three-game series against them in Oakland. The 30-year-old Floridian had won his two previous starts, including a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 21. He watched the comeback from the weight room.
Royals right-hander Johnny Cueto (2-6) lost his fifth straight start, allowing a season-high eight runs and 11 hits with three strikeouts and one walk over 6 1-3 innings.
“We have to turn the page on it”, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Carlos Gomez has two on this road trip but was scratched from Sunday’s lineup with a sore left side.
Angels: Nick Tropeano will start Tuesday in Seattle because Matt Shoemaker isn’t quite ready to return from right forearm tightness.
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Choo is 7 for 22 with a homer against Kazmir, but Beltre (1 for 8 this season) and Prince Fielder (2 for 18 career) have struggled, though Fielder homered off him May 1 in Arlington. Sunday, he entered in an easier situation, up 3-0, and retired the first two Astros without issue.
