Astros vs Angels Recap: Whitcomb, Smith pace Angels to 3-2 win

The Houston Astros came to Angel Stadium hoping to bounce back. They'd dropped the night before, 10-1. The Los Angeles Angels wanted to keep rolling. Mike Trout stepped up to the plate in the first inning against Astros pitcher Peter Lambert. The pitch came in at 93 miles per hour. Trout's bat connected hard. The ball rocketed toward center field, climbing higher and higher. It sailed 404 feet into the night sky. The crowd erupted. One run in, and the Angels had the early lead. Houston's offense stayed quiet through the early innings. The Astros couldn't get anything going against Reid Detmers on the mound. By the time the fifth inning rolled around, the Angels were still ahead. This game was shaping up to be a pitcher's duel.

The fifth inning brought more fireworks. Logan O'Hoppe stepped into the batter's box with two outs. Peter Lambert threw a 94 mile-per-hour fastball. O'Hoppe swung and connected perfectly. The ball sailed to left-center field, traveling 423 feet before disappearing over the wall. The Angels doubled their lead. Two to nothing. But Houston wasn't going away quietly. In the sixth inning, Shay Whitcomb came to bat against Detmers. The Astros star got his pitch. He crushed a 94 mile-per-hour fastball into left-center field. The ball carried 408 feet. One run scored for Houston. The Astros were back in the fight. The game tightened up. Both teams were trading blows now.

The game stayed tied at two through seven innings. Then came the eighth. Cam Smith stepped up to face Angels reliever Chase Silseth. The first pitch was a sweeper at 86 miles per hour. Smith fouled it off. Silseth came back with an 88 mile-per-hour splitter. Smith was ready. He crushed it 408 feet to center field. The ball soared over the wall. Suddenly Houston was ahead, three to two. But the Angels wouldn't quit. The game went to extra innings. In the tenth, Jose Siri came to the plate for Los Angeles. He singled to left field. Nick Madrigal scored from second base. The Angels won it. Three to two. Houston fell to 31-40. Los Angeles improved to 27-43. This was a battle worth remembering.