ANAHEIM ― Perhaps the Angels had no business going into the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s game tied with the Houston Astros, but there they were. Two errant throws by Astros fielders, combined with one timely hit – only the Angels’ second of the game – spurred an unexpected four-run rally.
Just as quickly, the Angels gave the lead right back.
Houston spoiled the Angels’ comeback bid before an announced crowd of 27,180 at Angel Stadium, winning 6-5. Kyle Tucker’s double into the right-field corner off Raisel Iglesias (2-6) scored Jose Altuve with the go-ahead run in the ninth inning.
The loss gave the Astros (57-29) a 20-game lead over the Angels (38-50) in the American League West. The Angels have lost five straight and nine of 10 to drop a season-low 12 games below .500.
Manager Phil Nevin admitted he was concerned by Iglesias’ outing. His four-seam fastball, typically clocked in the 94-96 mph range, was limited to 93-94 on Tuesday. His 84-mph slider was down to 83.
The 32-year-old threw only one fastball to Altuve while walking him on six pitches. He gave up a two-strike single to Aledmys Diaz – who homered in the first inning against Noah Syndergaard – on a 93-mph fastball over the plate. Tucker’s double also came on a 93-mph fastball over the plate.
Nevin said he has no plans to build in more rest for Iglesias, who is on pace for 63 appearances this season.
“If it’s a save situation, he’s our guy,” Nevin said. “Maybe pitching back-to-back nights might build him up a little bit. It’s a conversation we’re going to have to have with him. He’s my closer and he’s going to stay in that role.”
After Diaz’s home run, the Angels trailed by two runs after half an inning. Astros starter Luis Garcia allowed only one hit, a single by Brandon Marsh, in six dominant innings. The Angels trailed 5-1 going into the seventh when they were gifted a comeback.
With one out in the seventh inning, reliever Phil Maton walked Luis Rengifo. Max Stassi hit a ground ball back to the mound and Maton threw to second base with the potential to turn a double play. But the throw was off-line, Rengifo slid in safely, and Stassi reached first without a throw.
The next batter, Jonathan Villar, hit a ground ball headed for the left-field corner, but Astros third baseman Alex Bregman glided over to stop it on his backhand. Bregman also threw wide of second base, however, and suddenly the bases were loaded.
Maton’s second pitch to Marsh, a curveball, hit his back foot. Rengifo jogged home – the beneficiary of a rare run without a hit, bunt or sacrifice fly.
Right-hander Rafael Montero relieved Maton and struck out Michael Stefanic on three pitches for the second out, but pinch hitter David McKinnon roped a 96-mph sinker on a line drive to left field. The single scored Stassi and Villar to draw the Angels within 5-4. Marsh, importantly, was able to advance from first base to third.
When Montero threw a pitch that got past catcher Martin Maldonado, Marsh scored from third to tie the score, 5-5.
“It’s awesome to sit in here and watch the guys come back,” Syndergaard said. “Especially (because) this hasn’t been the main theme – when we start down early, we haven’t been able to get over that hump and get that lead. It just shows the grit of this team, always battling until the last out.”
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Syndergaard allowed three runs in four innings, hurting his own cause by walking four batters. Both batters he faced in the fifth inning reached base, on an error and a walk, and Syndergaard was removed after throwing his 80th pitch.
It was the first time since May that Syndergaard failed to complete five innings in a start.
“I didn’t really have a clue where much of any of the pitches I was throwing, where the location was going to end up,” he said. “I’ve just been battling with getting comfortable on the mound for the last year, including my rehab. So this All-Star break’s coming at a nice time. I’m going to go back to the drawing board and figure some things out.”
Angels center fielder Mike Trout was removed from the game after four innings because of upper back spasms. Monte Harrison finished out the game in center field. Nevin said he “didn’t like the way Trout was moving” on the field and removed him from the game without negotiation.
The manager said follow-up tests did not reveal a more serious injury, and Trout is expected to avoid the injured list.