May 17, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) is congratulated after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Yusei Kikuchi, facing Angels, aims to stay perfect with Astros
With a loss Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Angels ensured they would finish the season in a familiar spot. With a win Thursday afternoon, the Houston Astros inched closer to their annual destination. The Astros will look to maintain their 4 1/2-game lead in the American League West on Friday when they face the Angels in the opener of a three-game series in Anaheim, Calif. Yusei Kikuchi (8-9, 4.31 ERA) is slated to start for the Astros against fellow left-hander Samuel Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45). The Angels were off Thursday after falling to the host Minnesota Twins 6-4 in the decisive game of a three-game series Wednesday night.
The Astros avoided being swept in a three-game set Thursday afternoon when they beat the visiting Oakland Athletics 6-3. Houston (78-68) is leading the second-place Seattle Mariners, who fell to the Texas Rangers 5-4 on Thursday. The Astros, who trailed the Mariners by 10 games on June 18, are aiming to win the division for the fourth straight season and for the seventh time in the eight years. The Astros, who were on a three-game losing streak, led for just four innings in their comeback effort on Thursday. In the finale vs. Oakland, Houston snapped a 2-2 tie by scoring four runs — all with two outs — in the eighth inning.
“It’s the best time of year to be playing baseball — leading into October, having an opportunity to be in control of your destiny,” said outfielder Jason Heyward, who hit his first homer as a member of the Astros when he delivered a two-run shot in the second inning. Any hopes the Angels (60-86) had of playing in October officially disappeared Wednesday, when they were eliminated from postseason contention. Los Angeles has missed the playoffs in each of the past 10 seasons, the longest active drought in the majors, though the Detroit Tigers would match the Angels if they come up short this month.
