Houston Blasts Lincecum, Routs Angels, 7-1, For Ninth Victory In 10 Games
ANAHEIM (AP) — Carlos Correa hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Houston Astros beat Tim Lincecum and the Los Angeles Angels 7-1 on Tuesday night for their ninth win in 10 games.
Correa went 3 for 4 and matched his career high with four RBIs as Houston easily improved to 34-20 since May 1. The Astros also beat the Angels for the seventh straight time, their longest winning streak in the rivalry's history.
Lincecum (1-2) couldn't get through the fifth inning in his third start for the Angels, yielding seven hits, four walks and five runs. It was his second straight bumpy outing after a promising debut.
Scott Feldman (5-3) yielded three hits in five innings to win his first start since April 24 for the Astros.
Albert Pujols' third-inning single drove in the only run for last-place Los Angeles (32-46), which has lost eight of nine. Before the game, general manager Billy Eppler said manager Mike Scioscia's job is not in jeopardy with the Angels, whose injury-riddled starting rotation has been their biggest obstacle.
Lincecum has a 6.75 ERA after three starts for the Angels, who signed the longtime San Francisco Giants star to patch that rotation. While he struck out seven Astros, he also struggled with control — throwing just 55 strikes in 101 pitches — and served up too many hittable balls to the Astros' surging lineup.
Lincecum was in trouble again after four Houston batters. He started with a four-pitch walk to George Springer, and Jose Altuve also drew a four-pitch walk before Correa put his 13th homer far over the left field fence.
Marwin Gonzalez tripled in the fourth and scored on Carlos Gomez's double. Colby Rasmus' one-out single in the fifth chased Lincecum, and Gonzalez bunted home Houston's fifth run moments later.
Feldman, who spent the past two months in the bullpen, was solid while winning a start for the first time this season, allowing no earned runs or walks.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: Feldman filled in for RHP Lance McCullers, whose rotation turn was skipped due to a blister. McCullers expects to return Monday for his next start.
Angels: 3B Yunel Escobar missed another game with a bone bruise in his left knee. Scioscia hopes he is available Friday in Boston. ... C Geovany Soto is closing in on a rehab assignment after working out in the bullpen Tuesday. He has been out since mid-May after knee surgery.
UP NEXT
Astros: Dallas Keuchel (4-9, 5.35 ERA) beat Kansas City last week for his first win in five June starts, but the AL Cy Young winner's weird season continues.
Angels: Jered Weaver (6-6, 5.24 ERA) has been solid in recent weeks, but had a rough outing against Oakland earlier in this homestand. He has a 3.26 ERA in 10 career games against Houston.
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