HOUSTON (AP) – Kent Emanuel worked 8 2/3 innings in relief in his major league debut. He saved Houston’s bullpen after Jake Odorizzi left early with an injury, and the Astros pounded the Los Angeles Angels 16-2 on Saturday. The 28-year-old, who spent seven years in the minors before getting an opportunity with Houston this season, became the fourth pitcher in the modern era to have a relief outing of 8 2/3 innings or more in his debut, according to STATS, joining Fred Smith (1907), Maury Kent (1912) and John Montefusco (1974). Emanuel (1-0) allowed five hits and two runs.
The Astros had season highs in runs and hits (18) to win their third straight following a three-game skid. Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer, Yordan Alvarez had a season-high four RBIs, Carlos Correa had three hits, including a homer, and Michael Brantley doubled three times for Houston. Odorizzi exited with tightness in his right forearm after retiring leadoff batter David Fletcher on five pitches. Emanuel completed the scoreless frame, and then Correa, batting leadoff for the third straight game, homered to kick off a three-run first for Houston.
The Angels got solo homers from Albert Pujols in the second and Shohei Ohtani in the third. Bregman padded the lead when he sent a slider from Griffin Canning (1-2) to make it 6-2 in the third. A two-run single by Gurriel capped a four-run fourth that made it 10-2. Alvarez cleared the bases with a triple in the fifth, and manager Dusty Baker took out Brantley and Bregman for the sixth with the game well in hand. It was the fourth straight loss for the Angels, who have dropped 17 of their last 20 in Houston dating to September 1, 2018. They played without superstar Mike Trout, who missed a second straight game with a bruised left elbow after being hit by a pitch on Thursday night.
Odorizzi, who signed with the Astros on March 8, grimaced on his final pitch. Catcher Jason Castro went to check on him and quickly motioned to the dugout. Baker and the trainers talked to Odorizzi briefly before taking him out of the game. Ohtani wwasn’tsure the ball was out on his home, so he sprinted until he rounded third base before slowing down for his waltz home. Canning yielded six hits and a season-high six runs while walking two in 2 1/3 innings, his shortest start this year.land him on the injured list, but he iisn’tsure when hhe’llreturn. “It’s been kind of a day-to-day thing until that swelling dissipates, and he feels comfortable swinging the bat again,” Maddon said.
Astros: 2B Jose Altuve revealed Saturday that he tested positive for COVID-19. Altuve said he did not have symptoms. He has been out since April 14, and it could be a few more days before hhe’sready to return to the lineup.
UP NEXT
HHouston’sLance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 5.27 ERA) opposes Dylan Bundy (0-2, 4.50) as the Astros try to complete the sweep Sunday.
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