The series started off with an 8-3 loss to the Astros. The Angels were missing three key players in the lineup: Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, and David Fletcher. In the first inning, Michael Lorenzen gave up two runs, including a 415-foot bomb to Yordan Alvarez who was coming off of Covid protocol. This was his first of two for the night. Although the Angels were able to tie up the game the following inning, Lorenzen loaded the bases and then preceded to walk Jeremy Pena to force in Alex Bregman. Lorenzen concluded his evening by hitting Jose Siri giving the Astros a 4-2 lead. The Angels’ Max Stassi hit his second home run of the year in the top of the sixth to pull the Angels within one, but the rest of the night belonged to the Astros offense. The Astros won the first game of the series 8-3, and continued its dominance over their American League West opponent. 

The Angels were able to flip the script in the second game and tie up the series 1-1 with a 13-hit performance from the offense. The Angels got the game started in the top of the second with Kurt Suzuki scoring after Brandon Marsh hit a sacrifice fly to left field. The Astros tied the game up in the bottom of the third when Pena scored off of a double by Bregman. The Angels regained the lead in the fourth with an infield single by Jo Adell. The Angels then blew the game wide open in the fifth inning by scoring 5 runs with the key hit coming off of Suzuki's one-out double scoring both Matt Duffy and Jack Mayfield. The Angels finished the scoring when Suzuki was driven in by Brandon Marsh’s single giving them a 7-1 lead. Pena concluded the game's scoring by homering in the bottom of the seventh. The Angels won the game 7-2. 

The rubber match of the series pitted Shohei Ohtani against Jake Odorizzi. The night belonged to "Shotime". The Angels put the game away in the first inning by scoring 6 runs. Ohtani started the offense by drawing a walk and then scoring off a bases loaded walk to Anthony Rendon. After the Angels batted around, Ohtani made history by becoming the first pitcher to ever bat twice in an inning before throwing his first pitch. Ohtani was unhittable on the mound. Ohtani had all of his pitches working and was perfect through 5.1 innings. At one point, Ohtani had struck out eight of nine batters, including six in a row. Perfection was broken up with one out in the bottom of the sixth with a bloop single to center by Houston's catcher, Jason Castro, for his first hit of the season. This was the only hit the Astros had that evening with the Angels' bullpen closing the door after the sixth inning. Ohtani ended his impressive evening by giving up just one hit and striking out 12 batters. 

In the first inning, the Angels scored 6 runs. The Astros’ Jake Odorizzi walked Shohei Ohtani. After Ohtani was at first base, Taylor Ward singled, leaving runners on first and second. Odorizzi’s second walk of the inning left the bases loaded. Odorizzi’s third walk brought Ohtani into home and left the bases loaded once again. Marsh singled to right field off of an 86 MPH splitter, bringing Jared Walsh into home. The Angels ended the top of the first with 6 runs. The game ended 6-0. 

The Angels ended up winning a series in Houston for the first time since 2018 and left in first place in the American League West.

Image Courtesy of Troy Taormina - USA TODAY Sport