ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Justin Verlander picked up his first win since returning from a neck injury and Yordan Alvarez hit his first home run in the fifth inning as the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Saturday night. .
Kyle Tucker hit a walk-off homer, Jose Altuve had two hits and two runs, and the Astros won their third straight to stay 4 1/2 games ahead of second-place Seattle. in the AL West.
Tucker’s home run was his first in seven games since returning from a broken shin. He hasn’t played in consecutive games since returning on Sept. 6.
“Having a guy like that on the bench, you’d rather put him on the field, but when you’re on the bench, you can’t wait to throw him out there,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
Verlander (4-6) gave up two runs and struck out four over five innings after going 0-4 with a 9.69 ERA in four starts. return Aug. 21 after missing 2 1/2 months with a stiff neck. He had two walks and two strikeouts while picking up his first hit since May 24 against Oakland.
Ryan Pressly pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his fourth save.
Despite the hit, the 41-year-old Verlander is still looking for more from his outings as October approaches.
“It’s starting at this point, trying to play the game,” the three-time Cy Young Award winner said. “Unfortunately, before I got injured, I ran a little bit there, I found my machine and I injured my neck, and I almost lost it. Obviously, I lost a lot of time. I’m trying as fast as I can to get back to that version where I’m tougher than I am now.”
Los Angeles pitcher Tyler Anderson (10-13) gave up four runs and seven hits over five innings. Eric Wagaman delivered the first hit and RBI of his career in his fifth game for the Angels with a double in the fourth.
“It is wonderful; now he can rest a little bit,” manager Ron Washington said.
Wagaman started his major league career 0 for 9 with two strikeouts.
Altuve got the Astros going by leading off the game with a single and stealing second base. He advanced to third in the infield and scored on Anderson’s wild pitch.
Verlander hit his first two homers before Nolan Schanuel gave the Angels their first run on an RBI single.
Houston’s defense contained Verlander from there, starting with a diving catch in center field from Jake Meyers. That started a streak in which Verlander retired nine of the Angels’ next 10 batters.
Astros right fielder Ben Gamel hit a line off the short right field wall in the fourth to take away a potential RBI run from Mickey Moniak, though Wagaman followed with an RBI double of his own for a 2-1 Angels lead. .
“It’s started now that the ball hasn’t gone my way, so it’s been nice to have some of those (defensive plays),” Verlander said. “It felt good.”
Verlander is slated for at least two more before the regular season ends and the Astros are putting together a potential roster for the postseason.
“We’re going to evaluate this over the next few days and try to add brick by brick in the right way,” Verlander said. “Keep trying to improve.”
The Astros took the lead in the fifth when Alvarez followed a leadoff single from Altuve with a home run to right field, his 34th. With two outs, Jeremy Peña singled, stole second and scored on Victor Carratini’s single.
The Angels nearly tied it in the eighth but Schanuel was thrown out by Meyers while trying to score from second base on Logan O’Hoppe’s RBI that cut Los Angeles’ deficit to 4- 3.
Tucker connected for his 20th homer in the ninth, his first since June 1 before his long-term injury.
Coach room
Astros: Meyers appeared to injure his left leg while following a football on the warning track from Wagaman in the ninth, but stayed in the game after a visit from the athletic training staff. … OF Chas McCormick is hopeful he can return from a broken right arm before the regular season ends Sept. 29.
Angels: RHP Carson Fulmer (elbow swelling) hopes to return to bullpen action Tuesday after spending the past two weeks on the injured list. … Angels forwards Michael Stefanic (calf) and Brandon Drury (hamstring) were out.
The following
Astros: RHP Ronel Blanco (10-6, 2.99 ERA) hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any of his last three starts.
Angels: RHP Caden Dana (1-1, 9.00) went just one inning in his second career start last Sunday against the Rangers.
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