Houston Astros Crushed By Los Angeles Angels; Lose 11-3

The Houston Astros headed into Anaheim fresh off a series win against the Seattle Mariners looking poised to do battle with the Los Angeles Angels last night.

Besides, they had won eight of their last 10 games.

But one can chalk this loss up to some miscues that occurred and the monster 5th inning the Angels had that caused the Astros to let the game slip out of their hands.

Things were promising but everything went severely downhill after that beleaguered 5th.

Would this game be considered a comedy of errors?

That idiom wouldn’t work too well for this game because there was nothing much to laugh about after that tail-whipping!

Let’s get to it…

The Astros struck first and in bizzare fashion!

At the top of the 1st inning, Jake Marisnick hit the ball but it bounced upward to a point where it fell near fair territory around the plate. This sent Chris Iannetta scrambling to get the ball but it was too late — Jose Altuve scored, Marisnick got on-base and Chris Carter and Dexter Fowler were able to advance to 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Astros 1, Angels 0

Sep 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Jon Singleton (28) celebrates with teammates after running in a score off of a single hit by Houston Astros left fielder Robbie Grossman (not pictured) against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

At the top of the 2nd, Robbie Grossman singled to center scoring Jon Singleton who had previously gotten walked. He also stole 2nd base shortly after Jonathan Villar struck out, who batted after him. Astros 2, Angels 0

At the top of the 4th, Dexter Fowler doubled to right scoring Grossman. Grossman had gotten on-base by reaching on fielding error by Erick Aybar. He was initially was out at 1st base but the Astros challenged the play and it was overturned. Astros 3, Angels 0

Things were looking good as the Astros were in control of this game but things started to go south.

The Angels answered back shortly thereafter…

At the bottom of the 4th, Mike Trout doubled to center scoring Kole Calhoun. Calhoun had previously singled to right getting himself on-base. Astros 3, Angels 1

Then it was Howie Kendrick‘s turn — he lined out to center but this allowed Trout to score because of a missed catch by Villar. Fowler had threw it right to him but it seemed as if Villar forgot that he was playing shortstop. This play cost the Astros hugely as the pendulum of momentum shifted at this point toward the Angels. Villar was credited with the error. Astros 3, Angels 2

The Astros weren’t done with their errors either, here’s what else happened in that awful 5th inning:

At the bottom of the 5th, Collin Cowgill reached on a Marisnick error at right, which was the root of some slight miscommunication between he and Fowler in regard to who would catch the ball. This caused his timing to be off on the catch with the ball ricocheting off his glove. The play also allowed Aybar to score, advanced Iannetta to 3rd and Cowgill to 2nd base tying the game up. Astros 3, Angels 3

Calhoun then singled on a line drive to center scoring Iannetta and Cowgill. Angels 5, Astros 3

Sep 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Brett Oberholtzer (right) reacts after giving up two runs as Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro (left) looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Lawless had just about enough of what he was seeing and pulled Brett Oberholtzer from the game and inserted Jorge De Leon, a September call-up, into the lineup.

It didn’t help…

Trout then tripled to center scoring Calhoun. Angels 6, Astros 3

Albert Pujols then sac-flied to right scoring Trout. Angels 7, Astros 3

Sep 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Jorge De Leon reacts after allowing a two-run home run to Los Angeles Angels third baseman David Freese (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Did you think the Angels were done?

Nope!

David Freese added some more nails to the coffin by homering to right scoring Kendrick, he had quite some lift off the 88 miles-per-hour fastball that De Leon threw to him. Kendrick had previously gotten on-base with a single and stole 2nd while Freese was up at-bat. Angels 9, Astros 3

Wait a minute, 88 miles-per-hour? The speed that Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the Future declared one could travel through time?

I’m sure the Astros wouldn’t want to travel forward, they’d want to go back to the past and right the wrong of that Villar error!

Anyway, Kendrick added the final death knell, at least for this game…

At the bottom of the 6th, he doubled to center scoring Calhoun and Pujols each getting on base previously by a single and walk, respectively. Calhoun was able to get on-base via a Samuel Deduno balk — the Astros third and final error of the night — and the last Astros’ pitcher being a victim of the Angels’ beating. Final Score: Angels 11, Astros 3