HOUSTON (AP) - At the end of a disappointing season, Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are having a little fun this weekend in Houston.
Kole Calhoun had a season-high three hits and two RBIs, and the Angels scored nine runs in the final two innings to rally for the second straight game in a 10-4 victory over the Astros on Saturday night.
It was the third straight victory in this series for the Angels, who scored six runs in the ninth inning on Friday night to win 10-6.
“Now that we’re out of it we’re trying to be spoilers,” Trout said. “We’re trying to win every game we play. We’re playing teams down the stretch that are in the playoff hunt still, especially these guys. We play them again at home and they’re still in it.”
It was another costly loss for the Astros, who fell to three games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.
“We’ve hit another rough patch,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “The season’s not over. We’re going to continue to bounce back and try to get us a win tomorrow.”
Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and C.J. Cron each added two RBIs for Los Angeles.
The Angels trailed by three entering the eighth before hitting three straight singles with one out to make it 4-2 and chase rookie Chris Devenski. Luke Gregerson (4-2) took over and was greeted by a soft liner from Trout, which dropped for an RBI single to get Los Angeles within one.
A fifth straight single, this one by Pujols, sent home another run to tie it. A wild pitch left Trout at third, and he scored on Cron’s sacrifice fly to put Los Angeles on top.
“The biggest thing is when we have guys in scoring position we drive them in,” Trout said. “We’re getting a chance to, when there’s guys on base, to get some hits.”
The Angels tacked on five runs in an embarrassing ninth for the Astros. The last run in that inning scored when second baseman Jose Altuve made a bad throw for an error to reliever Pat Neshek, who was covering first base, and Neshek tripped over the base and fell face first to the dirt.
George Springer had four hits and an RBI and for the Astros, who had won 11 straight over the Angels before this skid.
Houston led by two in the seventh before an RBI triple by Springer. Yuli Gurriel followed with a run-scoring single to make it 4-1 before Los Angeles rallied once again.
Houston starter Brad Peacock allowed one hit and one run while striking out a season-high seven in five innings.
Jhoulys Chacin allowed four hits and two runs - none earned - in six innings in his third start since making four appearances out of the bullpen. Jose Valdez (2-3) allowed two runs in the seventh for the win.
TRAINER’S ROOM
ASTROS: Closer Ken Giles injured his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive during batting practice on Saturday. Trainers ran to the right-hander after he was hit and he remained on his knees on the field for a while before being carted off. X-rays were negative and the team called his injury a bruised right wrist. Giles picked up his fifth blown save this season on Friday night when he gave up six runs in the ninth inning.
ANOTHER MILESTONE
Pujols hit his 602nd career double on Saturday to move past Barry Bonds for sole possession of 15th place on the career doubles list.
“Every time out he does something, whether he knocks a run in or gets an extra-base hit or home run, it’s fun to see just what the footnote is and who he’s passing,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Names are legendary every time he does something now. It’s fun to watch.”
UP NEXT
Angels: Rookie Daniel Wright (0-4, 7.48) looks for his first win Sunday. Wright allowed nine hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 5-4 loss to Texas in his last start.
Astros: Rookie Joe Musgrove (3-4, 4.42) is scheduled to start for Houston. Musgrove didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning of his last start, yielding two hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings of a 2-1 win over Oakland.
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