Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros Dominate Angels 6-3 in Series Opener

It didn’t take much for the the Angels to stay within striking distance of the Astros in the American League Wild-Card hunt. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols helped the team to a crucial victory while also achieving career milestones. The Astros hold the place while the Minnesota Twins remain in contention. A consummate grinder, the seventh-round draft pick out of Arkansas started with the Low A Tri-City ValleyCats in 2009, working his way up to a professional debut in 2012 against the Texas Rangers.

The Angels tacked on a huge insurance run in the eighth when Chris Iannetta doubled, pinch-hitter David DeJesus hit an infield single and Kole Calhoun reached out for a Joe Thatcher breaking ball and poked a single to left for a 4-2 lead. With two strikes, two outs and Houston down a run, Correa roped a laser shot that would have gone out in practically every other Major League Baseball park.

“I knew it had no chance [off the bat] because of our ballpark”, Correa said. I’m ready to let it go after last night, and yes I will blame the playoff hunt on my change of heart.

Correa said he’s never hit a ball to that part of the park before, not even in batting practice. He underwent season-ending surgery August. 12.

“Definitely, it’s a long ways to dead center out there”, he said. After that, Hector would get into a few jams, but ultimately worked out of them, and the bullpen would do a good job of hanging on to the lead. The Astros hoped to get him back by this weekend, but aren’t sure if he’ll be ready.

“I did want Lowrie, I really did”, Street said.

By then, it looked like McCullers might be out of the game early. He pitched one inning of scoreless relief against Minnesota in his last appearance after tossing just five frames against Seattle on September 15.

Cubs right-handed starter Jason Hammel (9-6) gave up four runs in five innings. He has played for the them since 2012, and now has a career ERA of 3.64.

McCullers deserves some props for gutting it out past the first inning.

“They were chirping at me a lot”, the rookie said.

Tonight’s game is going to be a battle of talent.

The Astros will try to get back to their winning ways with a pitcher who has dominated at home since arriving at the trade deadline.

Houston Astros’ Evan Gattis, right, runs the bases after hitting a…

That forced Astros manager AJ Hinch to turn to his closer in Luke Gregerson and he was able to shut the door as he got the tying run in Erick Aybar to ground out to second base to end the ballgame. Wednesday might serve as one final audition heading into the offseason, one that might be shorter should Tropeano pitch well enough to keep the Angels right on the Astros’ heels. He manned left field to avoid aggravating the injury by potentially diving for grounders in the infield. 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.