Angels top Astros 13-12 in electrifying comeback

Los Angeles Angels #17 Shohei Ohtani solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Photo by Scott Kurtz/TGSportstv1.

ANAHEIM CA - Reid Detmers (2-6) pitched six innings, gave up five hits and four runs, and recorded six strikeouts as the Angels (46-47) beat the Astros (51-42) 13-12 in 10 innings at Angel Stadium.

The Angels' bullpen failed to properly relieve Detmers, giving up 11 hits and seven earned runs through the final four innings.

"We have to pitch better, we certainly do," Angels manager Phil Nevin said.

But the Angels dominated offensively, recording 15 hits and scoring 13 runs.

Our offense is good," Nevin said. "I mean you look at the league leaders, we're in the top five of every category there is…We're doing our part on that end."

Framber Valdez pitched for Houston and entered tonight's game with a 2.51 ERA, the lowest in the MLB. The Angels struggled against Valdez in the first 1.2 innings, but Luis Rengifo hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Angels a 3-0 lead.

The Astros quickly scored two runs of their own off a single by Kyle Tucker in the top of the third inning, cutting the Angels' lead to 3-2.

Martín Maldonado hit a double off Detmers in the top of the fourth inning, which ran two batters in, giving the Astros a 4-3 lead.

"To be an elite pitcher in this game, those things can't happen," Nevin said. "He's going to get there. He's getting there. And those innings are fewer and farther between. But like I said, for us to win a lot of games and for him to get in the win column a lot more, those innings have to be smooth for him."

Detmers had a rough start to the year but improved tremendously this summer. His team needs him now more than ever as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive, including tonight's game, has given up 11 runs in his last two games pitched.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Eduardo Escobar was on first base and tried to make it home after Hunter Renfroe hit a double, but he got thrown out. The Astros hung onto their one-run lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, Detmers regained his rhythm and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. But the Angels failed to capitalize on offense in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Valdez threw a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Detmers one-upped Valdez, throwing his second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth.

Valdez did not match Detmers as he gave up two straight singles to open the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Angels failed to capitalize offensively again, as they went scoreless after reaching first and second base with zero outs.

The Angels replaced Detmers with Chris Devenski to open the top of the seventh inning. Devenski gave up three consecutive hits, including a single by Mauricio Dubón, which ran in Chas McCormick and gave the Astros a 5-3 lead. Later, Tucker hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Maldonado to score, putting the Astros ahead 6-3. José Abreu hit a three-run shot to bolster the Astros' lead to 9-3 in the top of the seventh inning.

"We got to get Devo going again, and he'll tell you the same thing," Nevin said. "The reason why we were where we were two weeks ago and where we think we can get back to here soon, Devenski was huge for us."

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Zach Neto hit a two-run bomb to give the Astros a 9-5 lead. Houston pulled Valdez, but the bullpen did not fend off the Halos.

Taylor Ward scored off a single by Escobar, cutting the Astros' lead to 9-6. Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer, tying the game 9-9.

The Angels acquired Moustakas, a 13-year veteran who won the 2015 MLB World Series with the Kansas City Royals, from the Rockies last month.

"A big moment for him," Nevin said. "He's been there before."

The Angels bullpen surrendered to the pressure and gave up a two-run home run to McCormick, giving the Astros an 11-9 lead in the top of the eighth inning.

In the top of the ninth inning, Yainer Diaz singled to left field, allowing Abreu to score. The Astros boasted a 12-9 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.

After being the only hitless and scoreless Angel through eight innings, Shohei Ohtani hit a solo shot to cut the Astros' lead to 12-10. Ward then scored off a wild pitch, making the Astros' lead 12-11. Renfroe singled, which allowed Andrew Velazquez to score and tied the game 12-12. But the Angels didn't score, so the game went to extra innings.

The Angels pitched well in the top of the 10th inning and sent the game to the bottom of the 10th with a 12-12 tie. Ward grounded into a fielder's choice at second base, but a throwing error gave Trey Cabbage, a rookie who made his big-league debut yesterday, enough time to score the Angels' game-winning run. The Angels defeated the Astros 13-12.

The high-scoring win snaps a six-game losing streak that has plagued playoff hopes for the Halos. The Angels were in a manageable position in early July, hovering between one to two games behind a wild card spot. However, entering tonight's game, they had fallen six games behind. The Angels will look to build on tonight's momentum as they attempt to muster a post-All-Star Week run.

"To have one go our way like that could go a long way," Nevin said.

The Angels will play their rubber match against the Astros tomorrow at 4:10 pm pdt at Angel Stadium.