Carlos Correa: Correa whacks 19th homer in an Astros win

Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, September 21, 2015, in Houston. They entered the key three-game stop in Houston having won their previous three series.

Evan Gattis and Carlos Correa hit two-run homers, and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 on Monday night in a matchup of American League wild-card contenders.

“I had no doubt Dallas was going to show and be his best”, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. For Tuesday’s game the Astros start Lance McCullers who has allowed 92 hits and 38 earned runs while striking out 107 over 107.2 innings for a 5-6 record and a 3.18 ERA.

The Angels remain hopeful that Smith will pitch again this season, but most athletes need at least two weeks to recover from even mild sprains, so Smith, who is on crutches and in a walking boot, appears doubtful, at least for the rest of the regular season. McCullers is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts against the Angels and has struggled with shortstop Erick Aybar (4-for-9, two doubles).WALK-OFFS1.

Keuchel (18-8) allowed one run on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts over 7-2/3 innings. This series could put Houston in the driver seat for a wild card spot or it could have them looking it up at the Angels and out of the playoffs.

To hear his teammates tell it, Keuchel’s impressive record at home – 14-0 in 17 starts – gives them extra comfort.

“I think it’s still in there”, Manager Mike Scioscia said. That was followed by a close play at the plate as Murphy slid under the tag at home plate after Collin Cowgill knocked a single to right field which made the score 6-3.

However, Astros closer Luke Gregerson induced a groundout for his 28th save. Later, in the fifth inning, George Springer kept up his hot streak with an RBI single scoring Jake Marisnick and up 5-0, that seemed like all the Astros needed in this one. Through that span of success that extended into his first start after the All-Star break, Santiago issued 2.78 walks per nine innings with a.286 opponent on-base percentage. Gattis scored left fielder Colby Rasmus with his club-leading 26th homer.

“I left a couple of pitches up; they hit a couple homers”, Weaver said.

The Angels got just one run in seven innings against Keuchel.

Los Angeles would finally get on the board in the sixth inning with Erick Aybar scoring from third on a Albert Pujols ground out, but Kuechel would find a way to exit the inning with minimal damage done. “We’re focused on the last stretch of games, but I know that we’re very confident he’s going to be re-tooled as he gets back into the winter and hopefully come back with stuff that’s a little more reminiscent of what we’ve seen from Jered”.