Castro’s 9th-inning homer gives Astros 3-0 win over Angels

Perhaps fewer still can doubt that they have become exactly that.

Jason Castro hit a game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth as the Astros topped the Angels 3-0 on Thursday.

“Don’t anticipate anything, but we’ll wait for the results”, Scioscia said of the MRI. Lance is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 1 start vs the Halos.

Jose Alvarez issued a one-out walk to Jed Lowrie. Shoemaker likewise was on his game, as he allowed just three hits through the first seven innings.

Scott Kazmir allowed 3 hits and struck out 5 in 7 2/3 innings in the first start for the Astros in his hometown and his second since a trade from the Oakland Athletics.

Altuve drove in two runs in the fourth inning and tacked on another two with a double in Houston’s four-run sixth to make it 10-5.

The AL East-leading Yankees won for the eighth time in nine games, and are majors-best 16-5 in July – matching their most wins in a month since August 2013.

Shoemaker worked seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits – all singles – and one walk while recording seven strikeouts. He now has eight home runs on the season and is hitting.216.

Scioscia said that Trout could be back as early as Wednesday as long as there was no pain in the wrist. “We need to regroup and start building momentum again.”.

Kazmir was fantastic in his first start for Houston. The Angels threatened in the eighth, as Johnny Giavotella hit a lead-off single, and then Taylor Featherston bunted him over to second.

When play resumed 44 minutes later, Derrick Norris singled with his fifth hit of the game; a career high.

As he walked off the field, Kazmir, who grew up less than 30 miles from the ballpark in Cypress, Texas, tipped his cap to acknowledge a rousing standing ovation.

San Diego star tight end Antonio Gates says he’s not sure how a banned substance got into his body, although he believes it could have been while he was cleansing his system in the offseason. Deputies say they found more than an ounce of marijuana and 10.9 grams of MDNA, commonly called Molly.

Harang (5-11) was making his first start since going on the disabled list on July 2 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Lowrie hasn’t played since April 27 because of a torn ligament in his right thumb. He was helped out by shortstop Carlos Correa who went 3-4 with a homerun and an RBI.

“When you’re coaching one of these young pitchers at this level, it’s important to get that out of their head as much as possible”, Hinch said. “He’s sort of the Superman of Houston”.

Said Iannetta to Gonzalez: “Look, there’s a lot of baseball left”.

The Astros took the first game of the series, 10-5. The 31-year-old Soria was 3-1 with 23 saves and a 2.85 ERA in 43 appearances with Detroit this season.

Astros: Scott Feldman opposes Rubby De La Rosa when the Astros begin a three-game interleague series with Arizona.

Victorino, traded the day before from the Boston Red Sox, started in left field, where he is expected to spend the majority of his time with his new team.