HOUSTON (AP) — Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and RBI single to lead the Houston Astros to another 11-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.
It's Houston's fifth win in six games and second straight rout of the Angels after an 11-3 victory in Friday's opener.
The Astros were up by one in the fourth when Tucker connected off Tyler Anderson (5-4) on a three-run shot that made it 4-0. It was his third home run in the last five games, with the first one in that stretch coming on a ninth-inning grand slam in a 7-6 win over Baltimore on Tuesday night.
Tucker, who has 22 home runs, added an RBI single in the fifth to give him 88 RBIs this season, which ranks second in the American League.
J.P. France (9-3) allowed four hits and two runs with five strikeouts in his return to the rotation after pitching in relief his last time out.
Anderson yielded six hits and seven runs while walking three in 4 2/3 innings.
Jose Altuve, who has a 14-game hitting streak, had three hits and drove in a run to pad the lead in a four-run eighth inning.
Altuve got things going with a leadoff single, but Houston didn’t have another baserunner until Altuve walked to start the fourth inning. Alex Bregman followed with a double before the Astros took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Yordan Alvarez.
Tucker then sent Anderson’s next pitch deep into the seats in right field.
The Angels had just one hit when Hunter Renfroe singled with one out in the fifth. There were two outs in the inning when Randal Grichuk singled on a ground ball to right field to score Renfroe and cut the lead to 4-1.
There were two outs in the bottom of the inning when Altuve doubled. Anderson then walked Bregman and Alvarez to load the bases.
Tucker singled on a line drive to left field to score Altuve and chase Anderson. Dominic Leone took over and he was greeted with a single by Yainer Diaz that sent two more home to push the lead to 7-1.
Shohei Ohtani doubled to start the sixth and moved to third on a groundout by Brandon Drury. The Angels got within 7-2 when Ohtani scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike Moustakas.
Left fielder Chas McCormick robbed Ohtani of extra bases with he made a leaping catch just in front of the wall for the third out in the eighth inning.
Andrew Velazquez hit a solo homer for Los Angeles in the ninth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: CF Mike Trout, who has been out since July 3 with a left hamate fracture, hit off a pitching machine for a second straight day Saturday. “Today was the most encouraged (Trout) has been by the swings he’s taken,” manager Phil Nevin said. His next step will be to hit high velocity off the pitching machine. There still isn’t a timetable for his return. ... 1B C.J. Cron left the game in the middle of the sixth inning with back tightness.
Astros: 1B José Abreu was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with lumbar spine inflammation retroactive to Thursday. Abreu said he received two Cortisone shots in his back Friday and that he was feeling better. He said he hoped his stint on the injured list would be short and added that he’s been dealing with this issue off and on for most of the season. ... RHP Phil Maton went on the 15-day IL after taking a line drive in the right elbow off the bat of Angels third baseman Eduardo Escobar in the ninth inning Friday night.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP José Urquidy (2-2, 6.10 ERA) opposes RHP Chase Silseth (3-1, 3.72) when the Astros look to complete the sweep Sunday.
____
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
