The second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader was nearly a mirror image of the first game, with the Angels putting up a crooked number early then holding on to beat the Astros 12-5 at Minute Maid Park.
Just like Houston sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs in the first game Tuesday, the Angels sent nine batters up in the first inning and plated four runs. The big hit was a bases-loaded single by Brian Goodwin. It went under the glove of Josh Reddick in right field, allowing three runs to score. Jo Adell followed with a double for his first major league run batted in.
@joadell0 gets 1! It's his first career RBI
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) August 25, 2020
4-0 @Angels pic.twitter.com/vX78oLB7KZ
Astros starter Brandon Bielak was lifted after recording only two outs, an even shorter start than Jose Suarez’s one-plus innings in Game 1.
Julio Teheran turned in his best performance as an Angel. He faced the minimum through four innings, and held Houston scoreless until they rallied to knock him out of the game in the fifth. He allowed three runs in the inning, cutting the Angels’ 6-0 lead in half.
Houston tallied another run off reliever Felix Pena in the inning, but the Angels were able to respond with two insurance runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to help secure the split.
The 12 runs scored by the Angels were a season high, and they did it in only seven innings.
Notes
The Angels finished the road trip 2-6.
The Angels haven’t been swept in a doubleheader since August 9, 2003 in Cleveland. Since then they’ve split seven and swept five themselves.
Mike Trout hit leadoff in this game, his first start atop the Angels’ batting order since May 16, 2018. Tuesday was his 162nd career start hitting first. He was 1-for-4 with a walk.
Luis Rengifo’s home run off Brooks Raley in the fourth inning was his first of the season.
All nine Angels starters had at least one hit, the first time they did that since June 27, 2019.
After Shohei Ohtani was called out on strikes in the sixth, manager Joe Maddon was ejected by home plate umpire Clint Vondrak. It was the second ejection on the road trip for Maddon.
Anthony Rendon was 0-for-3 in the first game of the doubleheader, snapping his 14-game hit streak, the second-longest of his career. Rendon didn’t play in the nightcap.
Rendon’s game off meant David Fletcher started at third base, which allowed him to go 3-for-5 at the plate and to make this defensive gem in the second inning to rob Carlos Correa:
Just Fletch being a king. pic.twitter.com/KWuOs8ZoFB
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 26, 2020
Game 2 particulars
Home runs: Luis Rengifo (1); Abraham Toro (3)
WP — Felix Peña (2-0): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
LP — Brandon Bielak (3-2): ⅔ IP, 3 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 3 walks
Up next
Because of Hurricane Laura, the Angels have no games on Wednesday or Thursday. Their next game is Friday at home against the Mariners, starting a four-game weekend wraparound series.