Astros aim to continue march toward title in rematch vs. Angels
The Houston Astros moved one step closer to clinching the American League West title for the seventh time in eight seasons behind another strong start from Yusei Kikuchi on Thursday.
The left-hander gave up one run and five hits over six innings in Houston’s 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels that reduced the Astros’ magic number to five.
The Astros will look to take another step toward the West title on Friday night when they play the second contest of a four-game series vs. visiting Los Angeles.
While Kikuchi did not factor into the decision on Thursday, the Astros improved to 9-0 with him on the mound following his trade deadline acquisition from the Toronto Blue Jays. And while Kikuchi has been at the forefront of the roster changes Houston made down the stretch, contributions from the likes of Jason Heyward and Hector Neris — both of whom were released in August — were noteworthy as well.
Neris, released by the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 20, worked a perfect seventh inning and recorded a strikeout. Heyward, cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers four days later, made a fabulous sliding grab in left field to conclude the top of the ninth. With the postseason in sight, the Astros (83-70) continue to shape their roster for what they hope is another extended run.
“They’ve been really good on the baseball field, but for me, also in the clubhouse,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “They bring a different dynamic. Their personalities are different, and they have meshed really well with our players. But it also gives me the ability to make some moves (and) pinch-hit for certain guys for matchups that I like more than others. It gives me the ability to do some stuff.
