Angels rally in 8th to complete 4-game sweep of Astros

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered, Jared Walsh and Justin Upton delivered key hits during a four-run eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Houston Astros 9-5 on Sunday to sweep the series.

The Angels have a won a season-high five straight and posted their first four-game sweep since 2017.

Los Angeles trailed by at least three runs in each game of the series before rallying as it went 7-3 on the homestand.

“I’m seeing a higher level of competing on our guy's part. We're tuned in a little bit better," manager Joe Maddon said.

Rendon homered for the second straight game in the third inning when he lined a changeup from Framber Valdez (3-3) over the wall in left-center to tie it at 3. The third baseman — who delivered key long balls for the Washington Nationals in last year's World Series against the Astros — had a three-run drive to give the Angels a doubleheader sweep Saturday.

The Angels took control of the game in the eighth when their first five batters reached base. Walsh supplied the go-ahead hit when he lined a single to drive in Jo Adell. Luis Rengifo drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-5 and Upton delivered a one-out, two-run single off Chris Devenski.

Mike Mayers (1-0), the fifth of six Angels' pitchers used, got the win by retiring the side in order in the eighth.

“To be getting those against a team like that in our division is huge,” said Taylor Ward, who had two hits and an RBI.

Kyle Tucker, Aledmys Díaz and Carlos Correa homered for Houston, who have dropped four straight after winning 15 of 21.

Despite the bad weekend, Houston remains solidly in second place in the AL West.

“Just one of those weekends where whatever could go bad, went bad. But we’re still in a good position,” manager Dusty Baker said....

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Angels-rally-in-8th-to-complete-4-game-sweep-of-15547139.php