Devenski digs deep to preserve victory
Reliever gets Trout out with bases loaded as bullpen turns McHugh’s gem into win
ANAHEIM, Calif. — In the seventh inning of the Astros’ 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night, Chris Devenski found himself in about as high a leverage situation as one can be for an August game.
The bases were loaded with two outs when Mike Trout, perhaps the best player in baseball, stepped into the batter’s box. Devenski, whose Astros (78-50) clung to their one-run lead, had just allowed consecutive two-out baserunners via a walk to Kaleb Cowart and an infield single to Cameron Maybin.
Against Trout, Devenski jumped ahead with a changeup on the outer half that Trout took for strike one. Trout swung through another changeup for strike two before fouling off another to extend his at-bat.
Devenski then broke out his fastball. The first missed the zone and the second Trout fouled off. A slider outside and a changeup low and outside ran the count full.
As the Angel Stadium crowd’s cheers intensified around him, Devenski went back to his changeup. Trout connected, but he shot it straight up into the air. Marwin Gonzalez, who played second base Friday with Jose Altuve ailing, caught it in shallow right field for the inning’s third out.
Righthander Joe Musgrove, who began to warm up when Devenski was in his jam, pitched a scoreless eighth to set the stage for closer Ken Giles, who converted the save in the ninth. The relief trio finished off another strong outing from Collin McHugh (2-2), who allowed only
Astros update
Friday: Astros 2, Angels 1. Record: 78-50. Today: At Los Angeles Angels, 8:07 p.m. Starting pitchers: Brad Peacock (10-2) vs. Tyler Skaggs (1-4). TV/radio: ATTSW; 790 AM, 94.1 FM (Spanish).
Online
For a complete recap of Friday’s late game, go to houstonchronicle.com/sports
the one run on just three hits and two walks over six innings to decrease his ERA to 3.63.
Astros rookie J.D. Davis homered for the second time in as many games to tie the game at 1 in the third inning. The Astros took the lead when George Springer scored from third base on a wild pitch from Parker Bridwell to Josh Reddick in the sixth inning.