Mike Moustakas of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after being hit by a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 15, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Hafey/Getty Images)
Anaheim – The Angels snapped their losing streak in memorable fashion. Now, they need to see if it will become more than an isolated occurrence in a disappointing season.
After trailing by six runs in the seventh and three runs in the ninth, the Angels rallied to a 13-12, 10-inning victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
“Obviously it gives us a lot of momentum going forward, a complete team effort,” said Mike Moustakas, who tied the game in the seventh. “A lot happened during the whole game. And we found a way to come back and win as a team. I think it proves to all of us at this club that we can do it. It’s a very interesting way, the way it all ended.”
The Angels scored the winning run on a throwing error by shortstop Gray Kissinger, who was trying to convert a double play on a ground ball hit by Taylor Ward. Trey Cabbage, the Angels’ robot runner, scrambled home the winning run as the pitcher got away.
Angels closer Carlos Estevez stranded the Astros’ automated runner in the top of the inning. He was assisted by right fielder Hunter Renfroe, who made a fine catch as he tended to the stands.
It was the first time since August 19, 2021 that the Angels had erased a six-run deficit to win. In that game in Detroit, they actually overcame a franchise record eight-time deficit.
Coach Phil Nevin used the comeback as evidence his players still had some fighting to do, despite going into the game on a 1-10 stretch putting a serious dent on their playoff hopes as they approached the August 1st trade deadline.
“If anyone says their team doesn’t care, doesn’t fight, doesn’t play hard, I’m going to fight anyone who says that,” Nevin said. “They do. They prepare to win. They come to win every day. It’s been a tough stretch. We’re not out of it by any means. We’ve got another game tomorrow. We’re going to enjoy that a little bit. But it sure is getting one going our way like that that can cut A long way. I don’t know. But it sure feels good now.”
The Angels were down by six runs in the seventh before tying it up with Zach Nieto and Moustakas, and fell behind again by three runs as they hit the bottom of the ninth.
Shohei Ohtani led off the inning against Astros closer Ryan Pressley with his 33rd home run of the season.
Ward and Mickey Moniak then singled, the third strike of the night each. Eduardo Escobar followed with his second hit of the night, loading the bases.
Score a run on a passed ball. Later, Renfrew decided to tie the game, but Matt Theiss hit and hit Cabbage with a quickie, sending the game into extra innings.
The exciting comeback continued a stretch in which Angels hitters have already done a good job filling injured middle-order hitters like Mike Trott, Brandon Drury, and Anthony Rendon.
Over the first six games of the losing streak, the Angels scored 4.2 points per game, but the problem was that they allowed 8.5 runs per game.
“Our attack is good,” Nevin said. “Look at the league leaders. We’re in the top five in every category there: home runs, OPS, runs scored. We’re eighth in all of baseball in runs scored. We’re doing our part in that regard, without a lot of dead bodies lately.” We have to put on a better show.”
The pattern was continuing Saturday night.
Starter Reid Detmers gave up four runs in six innings, then right-handed Chris Devinsky gave up five runs in the seventh, putting the Angels into a 9-3 hole.
Just when it looked like they were headed for an ugly loss, the batters spring to life.
In the bottom of the seventh, though, Tess pulled a walk and then Nieto blasted a two-knee homer, his first hit since going off the injured list the day before. It was also his second against Framper Valdez, an Astros All-Star.
That was it for Valdez, who also gave up a three-run homer to Luis Rengifo again in the second inning.
The Astros brought in Reign Stanek, walked Ward and gave up singles to Moniak and Escobar, resulting in another run. Then, the Mastakas hit a three-run homer, tying the game 9–9.
Left-hander Matt Moore gave up a two-run leadoff penalty to Chas McCormick in the eighth inning. It was Moore’s first match after missing over a month on a strained slant course.
The Astros then scored an unearned run against Tucker Davidson in the top of the ninth, clinching their three-run lead.
At that point, it looked like the Angels were going to extend their streak of bullshit, with Detmers losing after allowing four runs in six innings pitched. He gave up two runs on a walk and two hits in the third, but his real trouble came in the fourth. Detmers struck out the first two batters of the inning before walking the second inning, No. 7 batter Yainer Diaz and No. 8 batter McCormick. Detmers then hooked a curveball to Martin Maldonado, who pulled it inside the left field line for a two-out double, putting the Astros up 4–3.
“To walk seventh- and eighth-hitters and then leave a pitch for Maldy, he’ll tell you the same thing, I don’t deal with him, to be an elite pitcher he can be with his stuff, those things don’t,” Nevin said. “They can’t happen.”
Detmers retired the last seven batters he faced to keep the Angels in the game before Devinsky gave up five runs on five hits in the seventh. Devenski had a 3.10 ERA on June 29, but has allowed at least one run in his last five games.
Despite the rough night on the hill, the Angels kept beating.
“It’s a good lineup, a great lineup,” Mustafa said. “When we get our guys back, it’ll be better. We gotta go out there and keep finding ways to score more runs, keep finding ways to win ball games. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how it’s done. As long as you get a W, that’s a good thing.” .
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