Street can't close it out as Astros rally past Angels, 3-2
HOUSTON (AP) - Huston Street didn't get the job done and he knew it.
Street could not close out a would-be victory for the Angels for the second time in his last three outings, giving up a two-run single to Carlos Correa in the ninth for a 3-2 loss to the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
"Bases loaded, you don't give up a run, you got the job done," Street said. "Bases loaded tonight, I didn't get the job done. That's all I care about."
Street (2-1) loaded the bases with two walks and an infield single before Correa laced a 3-2 pitch into the gap, scoring George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez.
"Huston looked like he had trouble with everything," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He wasn't able to get his slider where he needed it to be. He wasn't able to get his fastball where he wanted it to be or his changeup. He's had trouble getting pitches into good zones. You walk the first guy, and that's a recipe for something bad to happen."
Facing Correa with a full count, Street said he was throwing an aggressive pitch hoping Correa would hit it at someone.
"I threw the exact pitch I wanted to throw, which is a fastball down in the zone on the inner third," he said. "I wanted to get him looking out over, and he did a good job of keeping his hands right inside the baseball."
Street has six walks compared to just two strikeouts in his last five appearances.
"That's not his recipe for success," Scioscia said. "He's good at getting in the zone in good spots. He changes up on a slider and makes it bigger, gets his fastball to the corner, and has a good changeup. He has struggled a little bit doing that."
C.J. Cron hit his first home run since May 31 and sixth of the season in the fourth inning off a hanging curveball to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.
Mike Trout had two hits, including an RBI single in the first. It was the 14th first-inning run surrendered by Collin McHugh in 15 starts this season.
Street's rough night spoiled a solid outing from Hector Santiago, who allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
"I think the biggest thing for me is just get ahead in the count and throw strikes," Santiago said. "I think when I throw strikes, my stuff plays."
Houston improved to 36-36, moving to .500 for the first time since it was 1-1 on April 6.
Correa hit his second home run in two games to cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth.
Luke Gregerson (1-1) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.
McHugh allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in seven innings. After giving up four runs in each of his first two starts in June, McHugh has settled down in surrendering just three in his last two starts.
WEB GEM
Johnny Giavotella kept the Angels ahead with a diving play to start an inning-ending double play in the eighth. After making the stop on Jason Castro's grounder up the middle, Giavotella tossed the ball to Andrelton Simmons, who caught it barehanded and threw it to first to complete the play.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: 1B Albert Pujols was given a day off because of left hamstring tightness, Scioscia said. ... RHP Nick Tropeano (right shoulder tightness) will start a rehab assignment on Thursday with Class-A Inland Empire. ... LHP Tyler Skaggs (shoulder tightness) will pitch in an Arizona League game on Wednesday. ... RHP Joe Smith (left hamstring strain) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, Scioscia said.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-7, 4.50 ERA) gets the ball for the Angels on Wednesday. In his last seven starts, Shoemaker has posted a 3-4 record with a 2.19 ERA, while striking out 60 and walking just four.
Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (3-2, 4.24 ERA) will start for the Astros on Wednesday. McCullers has gone 3-3 in his last six starts, in which he has struck out at least six batters in every game.