Yordan Alvarez homered twice with four RBIs in his return after missing five games because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols to lead the Houston Astros to an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in their home opener Monday night.
But the Astros lost Jose Altuve in the eighth inning with an apparent injury. He fell to the ground after legging out an infield single. It wasn't what the injury was, and team didn’t immediately provide details on it.
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Yordan Alvarez homered twice with four RBIs in his return after missing five games because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols to lead the Houston Astros to an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in their home opener Monday night.
Alex Bregman doubled with no outs in the seventh, and then Alvarez connected again — a homer to the bullpen in right center to push the lead to 7-3. Alvarez has three home runs so far this season, and it was his ninth multi-homer game of his career.
Max Stassi hit a solo homer for the Angels, who were without star Mike Trout. He sat with a bruised left hand after being hit by a pitch Sunday.
Lorenzen’s bases-loaded walk of rookie Jeremy Peña with one out in the fourth put the Astros on top 3-2. Lorenzen then plunked Jose Siri on the hand to score another run and end his night.
PUT A RING ON IT
After the rings were handed out, the team unveiled its 2021 AL championship pennant on the wall in left field.
Astros: Alvarez was activated from the injured list before the game and INF Joe Perez was optioned to Double-A Corpus Christi to make room for him on the roster. RHP Lance McCullers Jr. was transferred to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot for Alvarez on the 40-man roster.
Alvarez, who had three hits, put the Astros up early with his 417-foot shot to the second deck off Michael Lorenzen (1-1) in the first inning, scoring Michael Brantley. The Angels tied it in the second before Houston added two runs in the fourth inning to regain the lead.
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez, right, runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Lorenzen, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Alex Bregman doubled with no outs in the seventh, and then Alvarez connected again — a homer to the bullpen in right center to push the lead to 7-3. Alvarez has three home runs so far this season, and it was his ninth multi-homer game of his career.
Houston starter Luis García (1-0) allowed four hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings for the win. Phil Maton, Rafael Montero and Hector Neris combined to shut out the Angels the rest of the way.
Lorenzen took the loss after allowing four hits and four runs with two walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Max Stassi hit a solo homer for the Angels, who were without star Mike Trout. He sat with a bruised left hand after being hit by a pitch Sunday.
Brantley singled with one out in the first before Alvarez sent a slider into the right field stands with two outs to make it 2-0.
The Angels tied it up on a two-out double by Tyler Wade in the second inning.
Los Angeles Angels' Max Stassi watches his home run against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Lorenzen’s bases-loaded walk of rookie Jeremy Peña with one out in the fourth put the Astros on top 3-2. Lorenzen then plunked Jose Siri on the hand to score another run and end his night.
With two outs in the sixth, Stassi homered to right field to cut the lead to 4-3 and chase García.
The Astros had runners at first and third with one out in the sixth when Martín Maldonado drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt to make it 5-3.
Houston Astros center fielder Jose Siri (26) catches a fly ball by Los Angeles Angels' Max Stassi during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
PUT A RING ON IT
The Astros received their AL championship rings in a pre-game ceremony. The rings feature 104 round diamonds to commemorate the team’s wins in the 2021 season.
Along with diamonds, the rings have blue and orange sapphires for a total weight of about 7.10 carats.
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani hits a single against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
After the rings were handed out, the team unveiled its 2021 AL championship pennant on the wall in left field.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Team trainer Mike Frostad said Trout had an MRI on Monday that was negative for a fracture. Frostad added Trout’s return to the lineup will depend on pain tolerance. ... 3B Anthony Rendon was scratched from the lineup because of a stomach bug. Rendon said he was unable to keep anything down Monday and manager Joe Maddon wasn’t sure if he’d be back in the lineup Tuesday.
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve reacts after legging out an infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Houston. (Kevin M. CoxThe Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Astros: Alvarez was activated from the injured list before the game and INF Joe Perez was optioned to Double-A Corpus Christi to make room for him on the roster. RHP Lance McCullers Jr. was transferred to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot for Alvarez on the 40-man roster.
UP NEXT
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (1-0, 0.93) opposes LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 0.00) when the series continues Tuesday night.
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve, center, is helped off the field after legging out an infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Houston. (Kevin M. CoxThe Galveston County Daily News via AP)
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