Weaver struggles again versus Houston in 7-2 Angels loss
HOUSTON (AP) - Jered Weaver has not had much success against the Houston Astros this season, and that continued Saturday night.
Evan Gattis had two home runs and four RBIs in his return to the lineup, Collin McHugh threw six strong innings and the Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2.
Weaver (8-8) allowed six runs on seven hits with three walks in four innings.
"It looked like Jered had trouble with his release point," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think getting ahead of some guys and repeating some pitches, he didn't look as grounded as he has been. I don't think he got a chance to get his game on the field the way he has been the last couple starts."
The right-hander has struggled against Houston this season, allowing 16 runs in 15 1/3 innings.
"I just think that obviously, I don't have the same (stuff) that I used to have is first and foremost," Weaver said. "They have become a pretty patient team. Not as free swinging. They make you work for it. I had to work my (butt) off there in the second and third."
Weaver had allowed a run in each of his last two outings - both wins - before Saturday. Weaver said his command wasn't very good Saturday.
"It was not like it had been," Weaver said. "Everything was up. It was kind of erratic. When I made good pitches, good things happened, but when I fell behind, I had to come back in with certain pitches that didn't work out too good."
The Angels have lost 10 straight to Houston.
"It's kind of a spell of bad luck," Kole Calhoun said. "They play well against us, and we are not swinging the bats here like we should be."
Gattis sat Friday with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch Wednesday. He came back Saturday and launched a three-run homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field in the second inning and added a solo shot off the facade in left-center in the fourth to give Houston a 5-0 lead.
It was his sixth career multihomer game and first since hitting a pair Aug. 26, 2015, against the Yankees.
Carlos Correa had a solo home run to right in the fifth.
McHugh (7-6) allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. He continued his string of solid outings, allowing two runs or fewer for the sixth time in his last seven starts.
Houston tacked on a run in the third when Weaver hit Preston Tucker with the bases loaded, scoring George Springer. Springer knocked an RBI single in the fourth.
Ji-Man Choi had a solo home run to the upper deck in right field to lead off the fifth, and Andrelton Simmons hit an RBI single in the sixth for the Angels.
ROSTER MOVES
Angels: Los Angeles called up Carlos Perez from Triple-A Salt Lake. Perez started at catcher and went 0 for 3. The Angels optioned C Juan Graterol to Salt Lake.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Tim Lincecum (2-3) will make his seventh start of the season Sunday and is looking for his second straight win.
Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (6-4) will make his 18th start of the season and look to bounce back from two straight starts of four innings or less, including Monday's outing in Oakland where he was tagged for six runs in 3 2/3 innings.