Angels come up short with bats and gloves in loss to Astros

Jeff Fletcher, The Orange County Register on Aug 29, 2025

Published in Baseball

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HOUSTON — The nights of good pitching have been rare enough for the Angels lately that it was no doubt disappointing to waste one.

The Angels had as many errors as hits — two — in a 2-0 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday night.

One of those errors, by rookie second baseman Christian Moore, led to the game’s first run, in the seventh inning.

Both of the Angels’ hits were also in the seventh inning, when the Angels failed to convert on an opportunity score the game’s first run. The Angels also loaded the bases on three walks in the eighth, before Jo Adell hit a flyout to end the inning.

Angels starter Tyler Anderson and four relievers did all they could, but they got no support.

The game was scoreless in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez hit a sharp ground ball directly to Moore, who booted it.

The next hitter, José Altuve, hit a flare into shallow center field. Moore, who was running with his back to the infield, got there but couldn’t make the play.

Carlos Correa then singled into right, driving in Alvarez.

Just before that difficult defensive inning, Moore had been a part of the Angels’ failure to convert on their first good scoring opportunity of the game.

For six innings the Angels didn’t even have a hit against Cristian Javier, who was making his fourth start since coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Yoán Moncada then led off the seventh with a double against reliever Enyel De Los Santos. Adell followed a single, sending Moncada to third.

Logan O’Hoppe then hit a fly ball to shallow right, not deep enough to score the run. Moore struck out, then Niko Kavadas hit a ball to the warning track in right, ending the inning.

After the Astros scored in the bottom of the inning, veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel gave the Angels a chance by walking the bases loaded, with two outs.

By the time the Angels got another chance in the ninth, the Astros added an insurance run against reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. That also scored because shortstop Zach Neto couldn’t make a play on a sharply-hit ball that was ruled a hit.

The lack of offense and defense spoiled a strong start from Anderson, who worked five innings in his first start after being on the paternity list.

Unfortunately for Anderson, the Angels didn’t score while he was in the game, so his winless streak extended to 22 straight starts. He last picked up a victory on April 18.

Anderson got in one significant jam in the fourth inning, when the Astros loaded the bases with no outs, with two walks and a single.

Astros catcher Yainer Diaz hit a ground ball to third baseman Moncada, who stepped on the bag and then threw home to complete a double play. Anderson then struck out Cam Smith.