HOUSTON—Nolan Schanuel and Logan O’Hoppe hit three-run home runs, and Jo Adell added a solo shot as the Los Angeles Angels jumped on Framber Valdez for seven runs in the fifth inning Monday night, May 20, to power a 9–7 win over the Houston Astros.
Zach Neto homered in the sixth inning to give the Angels a season-high four home runs as they won for the fourth time in five games.
It’s the first time in franchise history the Angels have had four players 25 or younger homer in the same game.
“They’re growing up,” Manager Ron Washington said. “They’re starting to figure things out. They really didn’t try to do too much, and they ended up doing a lot. And that’s what it’s about.”
The Angels trailed by five with two on and one out in the fifth when Schanuel homered to right field to cut the lead to 6–4. There were two on again with two outs when O’Hoppe connected to put Los Angeles up 7–6.
Adell sent the next pitch by Valdez (3–2) into the seats in right field to push it to 8–6.
Valdez was tagged for a season-high 10 hits and tied a career high by giving up eight runs in five innings.
“He just kind of was lost, started leaving some pitches in the heart of the plate, and they put some really good swings on them,” Houston Manager Joe Espada said. “His stuff was really good... just that fifth inning, he kind of lost the feel for the zone.”
Rafael Montero took over to start the sixth and was greeted with a homer by Neto to leave the Angels up 9–6.
Houston led 6–1 early after a three-run homer by Jose Altuve and a two-run shot from Mauricio Dubón.
Angels starter Reid Detmers allowed six runs on eight hits in four innings. José Suarez (1–0) struck out one in two scoreless innings for the win.
Along with his home run, Adell wowed on defense, robbing Yainer Diaz of a home run for the first out of the ninth inning. Adell jumped to grab the ball just before crashing into the padded wall in right field, causing reliever Carlos Estévez to raise both of his arms and cheer.
“He’s growing in front of your face,” Mr. Washington said. “That was a big-time play, and that play right there may have saved the game.”
Estévez allowed an RBI single to Kyle Tucker to cut the lead to 9–7 with two outs before walking Yordan Alvarez. But he retired Alex Bregman on a fly ball to end it and get his seventh save.
Schanuel and Luis Rengifo both singled to open the first before Schanuel scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Ward.
Jeremy Peña singled with no outs in the bottom of the inning and stole second base with one out. The Astros tied it when he scored on a two-out single by Diaz, before a single by Dubón.
Altuve sent a high fastball from Detmers into the seats in left field to put Houston on top 4–1.
Abreu’s Return
Struggling first baseman José Abreu could rejoin the Astros as soon as this weekend, less than a month after agreeing to be optioned to the minor leagues to work on his swing.The 2020 American League most valuable player batted .099 with just one extra-base hit and three RBIs in 22 games this season before being demoted.
