Astros beat Angels 6-3 in opener of DH caused by hurricane

HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Cristian Javier threw well into the sixth inning, protecting a big lead and sending the Houston Astros over the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 Tuesday in the opener of a doubleheader created by the approach of Hurricane Laura.

The storm was expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. The Angels-Astros game scheduled for Thursday was shifted to become part of the doubleheader, and Wednesday's game was postponed.

This was just the second twinbill in the history of Minute Maid Park, a stadium with a retractable roof that opened in 2000. The Astros played a doubleheader against the Mets on Sept. 2, 2017, following Hurricane Harvey, which caused severe flooding in the Houston area.

Jack Mayfield's two-run single capped a five-run first inning. Two runs scored on a throwing error by Jose Suarez (0-2).

Javier (3-1) retired 13 of the first 15 batters before Jason Castro got an RBI single with one out in the fifth for the Angels’ first hit. Javier allowed three runs on three hits with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

“He had a really good changeup, and the ball was coming out hot,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “He had a lot of life on it. We took him as far as he could go.”

Two batters after Castro’s single, Brian Goodwin hit an RBI double to cut Houston’s lead to 6-2. Tommy La Stella led off the sixth with a solo home run.

Blake Taylor got the final out of the sixth, and Ryan Pressly pitched the seventh for his fourth save.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa scored on the throwing error by Suarez on an infield single by Yuli Gurriel. Josh Reddick added an RBI single before Mayfield’s single.

Gurriel hit an RBI double in the fourth.

“We’ve been getting the large crooked number in an inning, but...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Astros-beat-Angels-6-3-in-opener-of-DH-caused-by-15514539.php