Tyler Anderson carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Taylor Ward and Nolan Schanuel each hit solo home runs, and the visiting Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday.
The Angels have hit 25 home runs across their last nine games for the most homers in any nine-game span in franchise history. Mike Trout added a two-run single for Los Angeles, which evened the three-game series after losing 14-3 on Friday.
Anderson (1-0) allowed one hit with four walks and six strikeouts over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Kenley Jansen worked around a one-out single in the ninth for his fourth save.
Houston was limited to three hits, including Isaac Paredes’ two-out homer in the eighth inning against Ryan Zeferjahn.
Los Angeles claimed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ward singled against Ryan Gusto (1-1) to begin the game and moved to third on Luis Rengifo’s double before both scored on Trout’s two-run single.
Trout also played a key role in an interesting play in the second inning on Yainer Diaz’s fly ball down the right field line.
After Trout made the catch in foul territory, the ball was pulled from his glove by an Astros fan. Trout argued for fan interference, but umpires ruled the play was a foul ball and Diaz was able to continue his at-bat. He flied out to center field on the next pitch.
Los Angeles added to its lead with Schanuel’s solo home run with one out in the fourth inning. The 383-foot shot was Schanuel’s first homer this season.
Ward lined a 2-1 sinker into the right field seats with one out in the fifth inning to give the Angels a 4-0 lead. Ward has hit all four of his homers this season in the past four games.
Gusto allowed three runs on four hits over four innings in his first career start. He walked one and struck out six.
Houston loaded the bases on three straight walks in the fourth inning, but Anderson escaped unscathed when Jeremy Pena struck out and Diaz lined out to third.
Anderson held Houston hitless until Yordan Alvarez doubled with two outs in the sixth inning. After Christian Walker walked, Ryan Johnson replaced Anderson and struck out Pena to keep the Astros scoreless.
–Field Level Media
