Paris gets his first MLB homer on a 2-run shot to lead the Angels to a 2-1 win over the Astros
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Kyren Paris hit a two-run shot for his first major league home run and Tyler Anderson pitched eight strong innings to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
The Angels took two of three games from the Astros to give them three straight road series wins in a single season for the first time since 2019.
Anderson (5-4) allowed six hits and one run in his third consecutive win, which came in his longest start of the season.
“He was magnificent and he was in control of the whole game from pitch one to the last one he threw,” manager Ron Washington said.
Luis García struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his third save.
Mickey Moniak walked with one out in the fifth inning before Paris launched an off-speed pitch from Hunter Brown (1-5) off the wall in left-center field to make it 2-0.
“It was amazing,” Paris said. “It was a special moment for me, a special moment to be able to put the team on top and then ultimately lead to a win and a series victory.”
Paris added that he got the home run ball but wasn’t sure what he was going to do with it.
“It will go somewhere special one day,” he said.
Jake Meyers opened the bottom of the inning with a walk before scoring on Mauricio Dubón’s double to the corner of left field to cut the lead to 1. But Dubón was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
Meyers and Dubón hit consecutive singles with two outs in the seventh and Meyers advanced to third on the play after an error by left fielder Taylor Ward. Anderson escaped the jam when Victor Caratini grounded into a force out to end the inning.
“He was tough,” manager Joe Espada said of Anderson. “The changing speeds got us. The changeup and then he’s got a nice little sinker to keep you off that changeup.”
Brown gave up two hits and two runs while walking three in six innings.
“We all know that he can be that type of pitcher,” Espada said. “It was a solid outing.”
Paris walked with one out in the third and advanced to third on a single by Nolan Schanuel. Luis Rengifo hit a grounder to Jose Altuve and his throw home was just in time for Caratini to tag a sliding Paris at the plate.
The Angels challenged the call, but it was upheld.
Houston’s Jeremy Peña hit a ball that bounced off the wall in left field with two outs in the fourth that initially was called a homer. But umpires reviewed the call, and it was changed to a double.
Los Angeles shortstop Zach Neto left the game with two outs in the sixth inning with right elbow soreness. Luis Guillorme entered the game to play second base and Paris moved from second to shortstop to replace Neto.
Neto said after the game that he was feeling “pretty good” and that the training staff didn’t think his injury was serious.
ABREU’S NEXT STEP
Struggling first baseman José Abreu is scheduled to play two games for Triple-A Sugar Land this weekend before returning to the Astros. The move comes less than a month after the 2020 AL MVP agreed to be optioned to the minors to work on his swing.
Abreu batted .099 with just one extra-base hit and three RBIs in 22 games this season before his demotion.
Espada said the Astros want Abreu to play a full nine innings in the games this weekend to prepare for his return to the majors.
UP NEXT
Angels: Los Angeles is off Thursday before hosting Cleveland in the opener of a three-game series Friday night, when LHP Patrick Sandoval (2-6, 4.59 ERA) opposes LHP Logan Allen (5-2, 4.91).
Astros: Houston is also off Thursday before opening a series at Oakland on Friday night with Justin Verlander (2-2, 3.97) on the mound. The Athletics haven’t named their starter.
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