Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Box Score, Summary & Team Stats – June 7, 2024 Gametracker

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Yainer Diaz scored in his fourth straight game and drove in three runs, and Framber Valdez pitched a four-hitter in the Houston Astros’ 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Yordan Alvarez hit a game-tying three-run double in the Astros’ five-run seventh inning, who opened a weekend series at the Big A with their fifth win in eight games.

Valdez (5-3) struck out eight in his seventh complete game and his first since his no-hitter last August. Valdez frequently dominates the Angels, including three career outings with at least 12 strikeouts as well as five wins in eight career starts at Angel Stadium.

Valdez dedicated his performance to teammate Cristian Javier, who underwent Tommy John surgery this week and won’t return to the mound until the end of next season at the earliest.

“It’s one of those games for your record, for yourself, for your future, it’s really good,” Valdez said through a translator. “I spoke to Cristian earlier today and told him, ‘I’m really going to throw a game.’ good game today, because we need it.'”

Valdez didn’t walk a batter until Taylor Ward drew a two-out walk in the ninth. Manager Joe Espada decided to allow Valdez to face just one more batter, and shortstop Jeremy Peña made a diving hit down the line from Kevin Pillar for the final out.

Diaz connected for a two-run shot moments after Alvarez gave Houston the lead, giving it nine RBIs in the last four games. Diaz scored in every game of the Astros’ series against St. Louis earlier this week, and his save to stop the Angels’ Hunter Strickland was his seventh of the season.

“When you put in the effort and you’re really focused, the results come in ways you don’t even expect,” Diaz said through an interpreter.

Before this week’s surge, Diaz had hit just one home run in his previous 51 games, and none in 39 games since April 11. He hit 23 home runs last season in his first full big league campaign.

“There was maybe a little anxiety, doing a little too much to try to help the team,” Diaz said. “Now I’m more of the player I really am. I’m just trying to be calm and know what I can do.

José Abreu also homered in the eighth for Houston.

Pillar homered for the Angels, whose three-game winning streak ended just short of tying their longest streak of the season.

“We faced one of the best pitchers in the game, and he had to be at his best against us, and he was,” Angels manager Ron Washington said.

Griffin Canning (2-6) allowed three runs on seven hits as he pitched the seventh inning.

Houston only allowed two runners past first base in the first six innings, but Trey Cabbage and José Altuve singled to chase Canning away in the seventh. Alvarez then hit a long double into the gap against Strickland moments after Alex Bregman drew a walk with the help of what appeared to be a missed Strike 3 call by home plate umpire Jonathan Parra.

“I thought it was in the middle, but what can you do about it?” Washington said. “It could have made a difference. Get him out, we could probably talk around Alvarez. But that didn’t happen. … We still had an opportunity to come out of this inning without giving up five.

Pillar tied it on the first pitch of the second inning, blasting it 411 feet for his seventh home run of the season and sixth in 24 games with the Angels.

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: OF Kyle Tucker went on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right shin after fouling his leg Monday against St. Louis. This decision is retroactive to Tuesday. … Javier and compatriot Jose Urquidy both underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this week, the team revealed.

Angels: Anthony Rendon took the grounders to third base before the game in his gradual return to baseball activities. The $245 million third baseman has been out since April 20 with a hamstring injury.

FOLLOWING

Los Angeles’ Tyler Anderson (5-5, 2.37 ERA) has allowed exactly one run in each of his last four starts, posting a 1.35 ERA. He’ll face Hunter Brown (1-5, 6.18), who pitched six solid innings in a 2-1 loss to the Angels last month.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB