June 10, 2017

Mike Fiers allowed just one unearned on two hits, while pitching 7 1/3 innings, as the Astros topped the Angels 3-1 on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

Fiers improved to 4-2 on the season, striking out eight batters and walking 2.  He made 95 pitches on the night.

“He didn’t do anything that we haven’t seen before, but he was doing it well,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He changed speeds, had a good breaking ball and change up going as well.”

Brian McCann put Houston up 1-0 with his solo shot to right field off Ricky Nolasco with one out in the second.  Nolasco fell to 2-7 on the season after giving up 2 runs on 8 hits in seven innings of work.

Yuli Gurriel added a sacrifice fly in the 5th, scoring McCann, which made it 2-0.

The Halos would cut the lead in half in the 8th, after Andrelton Simmons groundout to short scored Luis Valbuena.  Carlos Correa made a throwing error earlier in the inning, opening the door for the Halos to get on the board with an unearned run.

However, Correa made up for it with an RBI single in the 8th inning off of Yusmeiro Petit, adding an insurance run and making it 3-1.

Ken Giles pitched the 9th inning, striking out three batters in a scoreless inning for his 16th save of the season.

Sunday will be the rubber game of the three-game set.   Jesse Chavez (5-6, 4.56 ERA) will start for the Halos in the finale.   David Paulino (0-0, 4.66) is scheduled to make his third start of the season for Houston.