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Angels Edge Astros To Narrow Gap In AL West

ANAHEIM (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels parlayed a fielding error by Houston pitcher Dallas Keuchel into three unearned runs in the second inning and went on to beat the AL West-leading Astros 3-0 on Friday night, reducing their deficit to 4 1-2 games.

Jered Weaver (7-10) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked two en route to his 138th career victory, which tied Nolan Ryan for second place on the Angels' career list behind Chuck Finley's 165.

The last time Weaver faced Houston, he beat them 2-0 with a complete-game six-hitter on May 8 at the "Big A."

The Astros closed to 3-2 in the sixth on Carlos Gomez's fourth homer, a towering drive to left-center after Weaver walked Carlos Correa with one out and got behind Gomez 2-0. Weaver struck out the next two batters before manager Mike Scioscia went to the bullpen.

Fernando Salas and Joe Smith each pitched a hitless inning and Huston Street retired the side in order in the ninth for his 34th save in 38 attempts. The Angels remained three games behind Texas and two behind Minnesota in the race for the second wild card spot.

Keuchel (17-7) gave up five hits through six innings, struck out seven and walked two. The left-hander, who last year became the first Astros pitcher ever to win a Gold Glove, committed his first error in 62 chances this season and the Angels turned it into a three-run second inning.

Keuchel jumped about a foot off the mound to field a comebacker by Taylor Featherston and misplayed it, loading the bases after a one-out double by Erick Aybar and a two-out walk to Carlos Perez.

Aybar came home on a wild pitch — the 17th run the Angels have scored that way this season — and Kole Calhoun followed with a two-run single that increased his career-high RBI total to 75.

A SLICE OF HISTORY

Jose Altuve doubled in the first inning for his 800th hit in 647 big league games, making him the fastest to reach that figure in Astros' history. The previous mark was held by Cesar Cedeno (707), who needed one fewer game than Jeff Bagwell.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: RHP Scott Feldman was diagnosed with a sprained right shoulder after undergoing an MRI in Houston on Thursday, and is done for the season. The 11-year veteran, in the second year of a three-year, $30 million deal, was 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 18 starts.

UP NEXT

Astros: Rookie RHP Lance McCullers (5-5) is 1-3 with a 4.15 ERA over his last eight starts. The only victory during that stretch was a 6-3 decision against the Angels.

Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (8-9) held Texas to one hit over six innings last Sunday in a 7-0 home win, following a stretch of eight starts in which he was 0-5 with a 6.46 ERA.

 

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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