April 18, 2017

The Angels snapped a 6-game losing skid on Tuesday night against the Astros with a 5-2 victory.  Albert Pujols hit a tie-breaking 3-run homer in the 5th inning to help secure the victory.

Ricky Nolasco pitched 6 strong innings for the Halos, giving up just 2 runs on 8 hits, and striking out 3.  He improved to 1-2 on the season.  Cam Bedrosian pitched the 9th to earn his 3rd save of the season.

The Angels jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Andrelton Simmons hit a solo homer in the 2nd inning off of Astros starter’ Joe Musgrove.  The homer snapped a 21-inning scoreless streak for the Angels.

The Astros came back in the 3rd with a pair of solo homers.  One of them came from Yuli Gurriel and  the other from George Springer.  Those were the only two runs Nolasco allowed in his 103-pitch performance.

Mike Trout put the Angels back in front in the 5th with an RBI double, which made it 3-2.  Pujols was the next batter, and he delivered the decisive blow with homer.

“We have a lot of confidence in our offense,” skipper Mike Scioscia said. “I don’t think anyone was doubting that we would get back on track. But the sooner the better, and we did a good job in the fifth inning.”

Musgrove took the loss, and fell to 1-1 on the season.  He gave up all 5 runs on 8 hits, in 5 innings of work.

“We turned the page on last night and got a win,” Trout said. “You can always look at the negatives, but this team looks at the positives. … It’s a good win. Just go and build on this momentum for tomorrow.”

The Angels will be back at it tomorrow in game 3 of the 4 game set.  JC Ramirez will be on the mound for the Angels, and Dallas Keuchel will go for the Astros.