ANGELS EXPLOIT ASTROS’ PEN.
L.A. a spoiler wreaking havoc on playoff hopes
It happened again, and this one likely drove the nail in the coffin of the Astros’ 2016 season.
“Obviously, we need some help, but we control our own destiny, too,” right fielder George Springer said.
The Astros will need more than just some help after their bullpen couldn’t hold a late lead for the second night in a row. Five relievers gave up a total of nine runs over the final two innings as the Angels won 10-4 on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
A team the Astros dominated, posting an 11-1 record entering this series, now has a chance to sweep a four-game set.
And with seven games left in the regular season, the Astros (81-74) find themselves three games behind in the race for the second American League wild card. Not only will it take a miracle to catch Toronto (85-69) or Baltimore (84-71), the Astros also must overtake Detroit (8371) and Seattle (81-73) in the standings.
“I’m surprised we haven’t played a little bit better at home recently, but again, you have to play the whole schedule,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “There’s no magic pill that’s just going to all of a sudden give you a bye through a homestand or through a series.
“There’s an opponent on the other side that’s trying to knock you around, and they’re doing a good job of doing it.” Peacock’s start spoiled
Saturday’s implosion comes the day after closer Ken Giles was tagged for six runs in the ninth inning.
Relievers Chris Devenski and Luke Gregerson allowed four runs in the eighth inning. Jandel Gustave, Kevin Chapman and Pat Neshek gave up five more in the ninth.
“It was tough,” Devens- ki said, who hadn’t allowed a run since Aug. 24. It didn’t start that way. Brad Peacock went five strong innings and handed the ball to Devenski, who promptly worked around a two-on, two-out jam in the sixth before striking out the side in the seventh.
Three straight one-out singles ended Devenski’s day, with the third from Kole Calhoun chipping into the Astros’ 4-1 lead.
“Just didn’t make the right pitches,” Devenski said.
Hinch went to Gregerson, who allowed a run late Friday as well. The righthander faced three batters and all three at-bats pro- duced runs.
Mike Trout and Albert Pujols had back-to-back RBI singles before a C.J. Cron sacrifice fly put the Angels ahead 5-4.
The Angels sent 10 batters to the plate in the ninth, blowing the game open with five runs on five hits (four doubles) and two errors that came on the same play.
“They did a good job of battling against our pen,” Hinch said. “From that point forward, everything we did got turned upside down and they completely dominated the last two innings.”
The outcome erased another solid outing by Pea- cock, the 28-year-old righthander who spent most of the season in Class AAA Fresno.
Peacock was perfect the first time through the Angels’ order, striking out five. He gave up his only hit and only run on a Pujols’ RBI double in the fourth. 3-run lead not enough
In four starts, Peacock has yet to allow more than two earned runs while completing at least five innings three times.
“Peacock did a good job of handing the ball to a really good bullpen that had a tough night at work,” Hinch said.
The Astros forged ahead in the third, scoring twice after leaving the bases loaded in the first. An error and two walks brought up Evan Gattis. In the first, Carlos Correa was intentionally walked to bring up Gattis, who struck out as the Astros stranded three.
This time Gattis came through with a sacrifice fly, and Jose Altuve later scored on a wild pitch.
Run-scoring hits by Springer, who finished 4-for-5, and Yulieski Gurriel, pushed the lead to 4-1. But it wasn’t enough. “It’s tough,” Springer said. “This is a tough stretch for us, but that’s a good team over there. You can never count them out. They always play us tough and they have the last three days.”