McCullers solid again, Tucker homers, Astros beat Angels 3-1

HOUSTON (AP) — Lance McCullers Jr. threw six strong innings, Kyle Tucker homered and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Sunday.

McCullers (12-4) permitted one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.

“I was being aggressive,” McCullers said. “Not trying to pick too much, especially early. … I just wanted to get in the zone, wanted to give our team some length.”

He won his third straight decision and has allowed two runs or fewer in three straight starts.

“He pitched ahead in the count most of the time, and he used his fastball probably more than he had early in the count to get strike one,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “He threw some outstanding breaking balls for strike three, and he threw some very good changeups. He had a good tempo going. He wasn’t in trouble very much.”

After Juan Lagares tied it 1-1 in the fifth with a homer to left, Tucker hit a two-run homer to right-center off Jose Quijada (0-1) in the bottom of the inning.

Since coming off the injured list on Aug. 24, Tucker is 25 for 59 with 11 extra-base hits, including three home runs.

“I’ve been seeing the ball really well and trying to hit it on the barrel and not chase pitches,” Tucker said. “I am just trying to do my job and get on base and score some runs.”

Shohei Ohtani, the Angels’ two-way superstar, went 1 for 3 with a walk on the day Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied him for the major league lead in homers at 44.

Los Angeles manager Joe Maddon lamented the Angels’ missed opportunities in the first two innings. They had runners on first and second with no outs in each frame.

“The early innings, that was the game,” Maddon said. “That’s large against McCullers. He’s one of those guys — like a lot of good pitchers — who...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/McCullers-solid-again-Tucker-homers-Astros-beat-16453448.php