Altuve gets on board; MVP hits first homer
Astros end Angels’ road winning streak
HOUSTON — Justin Verlander, Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros did enough to deny the Los Angeles Angels a three-game sweep.
Verlander pitched seven sharp innings, Altuve hit his first home run of the season and the Astros won 5-2 Wednesday, ending the Angels’ road winning streak at a team record-tying 11 in a row.
“We are tough to sweep because of our pitching matchups and our rotation,” Verlander said. “The old adage, ‘You’re only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher’ — I think we like our chances every day.”
“It was a tough-fought series. You can’t expect to win every series, especially against a team like that because they’re very talented, he said.
Albert Pujols connected off Verlander for his 619th career homer. Pujols now has 2,994 hits.
Verlander said he was “letting it fly” and “got a little erratic” in the seventh when he allowed two runs. But he said his body felt the best it had all season and his fastball command was the best it has been so far.
Verlander (4-0) held the Angels hitless into the fifth inning before Zack Cozart singled with two outs. Verlander gave up two runs and four hits, striking out nine without a walk.
Verlander won his 11th regular-season decision in a row, dating to mid-august last year, before the Detroit traded him to Houston.
“I feel like I say this every time he pitches, but what a great job of dominating and controlling the game he did,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “Even in the inning where he wobbled a little bit, it never gets away from him.”
Alex Bregman hit a three-run double and Jake Marisnick homered for Houston. The Angels had also won 11 straight road games in 1988.
Ken Giles pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Altuve’s sixth-inning homer came on a 79 mph hanging slider. The AL MVP hit 24 homers in each of the past two seasons.
After Altuve’s homer, he gleefully skipped off the field into a cold dugout full of players, coaches and staff who were intent on completely ignoring him. He pretended to highfive teammates in the air, laughing and put his helmet down before his teammates finally cracked and celebrated with him.
“I was so proud running the bases and when I got to the dugout, I was like, ‘OK, I know what’s going on,’” Altuve said. “I knew they were happy, but they wanted to give me the silent treatment.”