Astros wreck Angels pitchers on Mike Trout’s homecoming night

Angels 3 Astros 9

Before this game even started, Mike Trout had long since changed his player’s weekend jersey from Kiiiiid to A. Cox. The Angels did their part by holding a moment of silence and a tribute to the late Aaron Cox before the game.

Mike Trout was back from an injury and a tragedy and while wearing his wife’s brother’s name on his back, stepped in for his first at bat of the game and took the first pitch deep to the left field wall - garnering himself a stand up triple. (Trout would also go on to log his major league leading 100th walk of the season and and single.)

It was a great moment, and one of the few highlights in this game that was mostly ruled by the Astros. The bulk of the damage in this one came from Jose Altuve who had a double and home run and also wisely dropped a pop fly to score himself an inning ending double play in the third. Also doing damage was Marwin Gonzales whose grand slam in the 5th put the Astros up 5-0 and it was all they would need in this one.

Martin Maldonado was back for the first time since being traded and couldn’t help but share his bromace with Shohei Ohtani before the game. I present that to you below:

The Angels tried to fight back in the 7th after Rene Rivera reach on an error. Shortly thereafter, a questionable (no - idiotic) decision to send Rene Rivera home from first on Jefry Marte single resulting in erasing Rivera from the base paths. What did they really expect? The next batter, Taylor Ward smashed a no doubt 2 run homer that should have been 3 runs (not that it mattered). Why you send a guy home when you are down 6 runs is a mystery.

Aside from Taylor Ward’s home run and Mike Trout going 2 for 3 with a walk, the offense was pretty sleepy (Simba did add an RBI single in the 8th) . Pitching certainly wasn’t any better with Heaney giving up 5 runs and Cam Bedrosian and Noe Ramirez giving up runs of their own. Deck McGuire came in for 9th and gave up 2 more runs because, well, just because - why not?

Oh and outfielder Mike Trout? He also saved Deck’s ass in the 9th with a great running catch that doubled up Tyler White at second.