Zach Neto had six RBIs on a two-run homer, a solo shot, and a three-run double in the ninth inning off Houston closer Josh Hader as the Los Angeles Angels posted a wild 9-8 victory over the Astros on Sunday.
After losing the first three of this four-game set, Los Angeles (63-93) trailed 4-0 after five innings Sunday. But it scored in each inning after, then held off a ninth-inning charge from the American League West-leading Astros.
With a man on in the sixth, Neto sent a Spencer Arrighetti pitch to the back of the Crawford Boxes. After the Angels tied it at 4 with two runs in the seventh, Neto went deep in the eighth to make it 5-4.
Houston (85-71), though, went back ahead in the bottom of the eighth via an RBI double from Yainer Diaz (three hits) and a pinch-hit, run-scoring single from Shay Whitcomb. However, Hader (8-8) blew just his fourth save in 37 attempts.
Los Angeles loaded the bases with one out in the ninth when Hader walked Taylor Ward for the tying run. Then Neto laced a double down the left-field line that cleared the bases and ultimately prevented the Astros from the series sweep, though ninth-inning RBI singles from Diaz and Victor Caratini made things interesting.
Alex Bregman (three hits) had a two-run homer with three RBIs, while Jose Altuve also went deep for the Astros, who got six solid innings from Arrighetti, who gave up two runs and five hits. Houston loaded the bases in the third versus Los Angeles’ Griffin Canning, but managed just a run off Bregman’s sacrifice fly.
Altuve opened the fifth by sending a Canning pitch over the left-field wall. Canning’s day ended with Bregman two-run shot into the right field seats with one out in the frame. He gave up four runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings.
After Neto’s first homer got Los Angeles within 4-2, it tied things in the seventh. With Hector Neris on the mound for Houston, Mickey Moniak doubled, went to third on O’Hoppe’s bloop single, then scored on a balk. Facing Bryan Abreu, Nolan Schanuel’s sacrifice fly made it a 4-4 contest.
Houston star Yordan Alvarez exited in the third inning with a right knee contusion.
