José Altuve and Yuli Gurriel homered early as the Houston Astros hit a season-high five long balls Wednesday night in a 9-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Altuve launched a leadoff homer and Gurriel, who also went deep Tuesday, added his two-run shot later in the first inning. Kyle Tucker also connected for a second straight game when he smacked another two-run drive off Andrew Heaney (1-3) in the sixth to make it 5-0.
Houston starter José Urquidy allowed two hits and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings before leaving with posterior shoulder discomfort. Brandon Bielak (2-2) was solid after Urquidy’s early exit, giving up just two hits and a run in 3 1/3 innings for the win.
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve (27) is congratulated by Michael Brantley (23) after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Yordan Álvarez hit a solo homer and Chas McCormick added a three-run shot in the eighth to help the Astros win their second consecutive series after they also took two of three from the Blue Jays.
Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani batted leadoff, making him the first player to do so the day after making a pitching start since Ray Caldwell for the Yankees in July 1916. Ohtani, who struck out 10 in seven innings on Tuesday night, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts on Wednesday.
Heaney yielded a season-high nine hits with five runs in 5 1/3 innings for his second straight loss.
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (28) watches Houston Astros' Yuli Gurriel's two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Altuve sent the first pitch he saw off the foul pole in left field. There were two outs in the first inning when Álvarez singled, and Gurriel made it 3-0 with his opposite-field shot to the front row of seats in right.
Carlos Correa singled after that before Heaney settled down, retiring 12 of the next 13 before Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman hit consecutive singles with two outs in the fifth.
Correa singled again with one out in the sixth before Tucker chased Heaney with his towering shot to the second deck in right field to push the lead to 5-0.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (65) removes his cap as he talks with manager Dusty Baker Jr., center left, before leaving the baseball game during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
There were two outs in the fourth when Urquidy was injured. Pitching coach Brent Strom and a trainer came on the field to check on him before they summoned manager Dusty Baker, and Urquidy was removed from the game.
The Angels cut it to 5-1 on a sacrifice fly by Drew Butera in the eighth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon, on the injured list since May 3 with a left knee bruise, is improving and could be activated Friday for the start of a series at Boston. ... SS José Iglesias returned to the lineup after missing three games with back tightness.
Astros: RHP Jake Odorizzi threw live batting practice and will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment in a few days. He’s been on the injured list since April 24 with a strained muscle in his right arm.
UP NEXT
Angels: Los Angeles is off Thursday and RHP Griffin Canning (3-2, 5.19 ERA) will start the series opener Friday against Boston.
Astros: RHP Cristian Javier (3-1, 2.90) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against Texas.
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Two-way star Shohei Ohtani pitched perfect ball into the sixth inning, tied a career-best with 12 strikeouts and also had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Los Angeles Angels over the Houston Astros 6-0 Wednesday night.
Ohtani (1-2) didn’t allow a baserunner until Jason Castro lined a single to center field with one out in the sixth — it was his first hit of the season, and the only one Houston got in the game. Rookie Jeremy Peña walked with two outs to elicit a visit to the mound before Ohtani retired Michael Brantley on a groundout with his final pitch.
Ohtani’s big night gave him his first win of the season after entering the game 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA in his first two starts. He struck out six in a row at one point.
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani walks out before batting during the first inning of baseball game against the Houston Astros Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
The reigning AL MVP made history Wednesday before he even took the mound. He batted twice in a six-run first inning as the Angels sent 10 to the plate — that made him the first starting pitcher since at least 1900 to bat twice in the first before throwing a pitch, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Angels immediately jumped on Jake Odorizzi (0-2). Ohtani drew a leadoff walk and the first five batters reached, putting Los Angeles up 2-0 before Odorizzi recorded an out.
There were two outs in the inning when Odorizzi's fourth walk, to Tyler Wade with the bases loaded, ended his night.
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws during the first inning of baseball game against the Houston Astros Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Blake Taylor took over and Andrew Velazquez reached on an error by first baseman Yuli Gurriel that allowed another run to score. Ohtani then hit a two-run double to left field to make it 6-0.
Angels reliever Ryan Tepera struck out two in two perfect innings and Raisel Iglesias had a strikeout in the ninth to complete the one-hitter.
Los Angeles took the series after beating Houston 7-2 Tuesday night following an 8-3 loss in the opener.
Houston Astros' Alex Bregman walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning of baseball game Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Ohtani struck out the first two batters before retiring Alex Bregman on a flyball to end the first. He struck out Yordan Alvarez in the second before Kyle Tucker and Gurriel flied out.
The Japanese star then struck out six in a row before Alvarez flied out to start Houston’s fifth. Tucker and Gurriel fanned to end the inning.
Ohtani matched his career high for strikeouts set on April 8, 2018, getting his 12th when Niko Goodrum struck out on a foul tip to start the sixth before Castro's hit. The veteran catcher had been 0 for 9 to begin the season.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (17) yells to home plat umpire Jerry Meals after walking Los Angeles Angels' Tyler Wade with the bases loaded during the first inning of baseball game Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Brandon Marsh added two hits and drove in a run as the Angels played a third straight game minus star Mike Trout, who was out with a bruised left hand after being plunked Sunday.
Houston struck out a season-high 15 times as the team was blanked by the Angels for the second time in this young season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Manager Joe Maddon said Trout felt better Wednesday but was still sore, so they decided to give him another game off. He expects the star to return Friday.
Astros: 2B Jose Altuve was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Tuesday, with a strained left hamstring. Manager Dusty Baker said he didn’t think the injury was too serious, but that Altuve would probably need more than a week to recover. ... Houston selected the contract of infielder J.J. Matijevic from Sugar Land of the Pacific Coast League and transferred infielder Taylor Jones to the 60-day injured list to make room for Matijevic on the 40-man roster.
UP NEXT
Both teams have a day off Thursday before Houston opens a series with Toronto at home Friday and the Angels return home to host the Orioles.
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