Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Box Score on Sep 12, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 13, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Justin Verlander allowed one hit in eight shutout innings and the Houston Astros lowered their magic number to clinch the American League West to five with the 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

Verlander (12-8) allowed a leadoff double to Brandon Phillips in the first, walked Mike Trout to start the fourth and hit Trout with a 3-2 pitch to open the seventh, but Phillips never left second base and Trout never left first. Verlander struck out nine.

Verlander faced the minimum number of batters in the second through sixth innings to help the Astros end a four-game losing streak and send the Angels two games back of the Minnesota Twins for the second AL wild card.

Yuri Gurriel drove in the only run with a two-out single in the second.

Ken Giles relieved Verlander to start the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Phillips, but second base umpire Pat Hoberg ruled Phillips came off the bag after his slide and Giles then got Trout to ground out to third for his 30th save.

Angels right-hander Garrett Richards made his second start since coming off a five-month stay on the disabled list with biceps nerve irritation in his throwing arm, and his first appearance at Angel Stadium since April 2016.

He retired the side in order in the first inning but allowed three singles up the middle in the second to fall behind 1-0.

Gurriel, a 32-year-old rookie who came in averaging 3.35 pitches per plate appearance, the fewest in the majors, lined a 1-1 pitch to center with two outs to score Carlos Correa from second.

Verlander made his second start since his trade from the Detroit Tigers on Sept 1. He didn't cruise through the first inning as easily as Richards, allowing a leadoff double to Phillips on his third pitch.

Trout and Justin Upton then hit back-to-back hard line drives to left field, but Marwin Gonzalez tracked both down. Albert Pujols then grounded to deep short and Correa's two-hop throw was in plenty of time.

Verlander, 34, settled in and retired nine in a row before Trout led off the fourth with a walk, but he was quickly erased when Upton hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

Richards was removed after allowing one run and four hits in five innings, striking out four and walking none on 63 pitches, 45 for strikes. He threw 52 pitches in 3 1/3 innings in his return from the disabled list on Sept. 5 against the Oakland A's.

NOTES: Astros RHP Collin McHugh played catch for the first time since leaving after three innings Friday against the Oakland A's because of a fingernail injury and had no setbacks. He will miss his next scheduled start Thursday at the Angels... The Kansas City Royals claimed RHP Mike Morin off waivers from the Angels, who designated him for assignment when RHP Garrett Richards came off the DL last week. ... Angels 2B Brandon Phillips came in 0-for-15 this season against the Astros before his double off Justin Verlander in the first inning.