Angels’ Tyler Anderson has a night to forget in Houston

HOUSTON — Tyler Anderson has been the Angels’ best and most durable starting pitcher of 2024, and he earned All-Star honors in July. But in the final days of an increasingly lost season, the crafty left-hander had a night to forget on Friday at Minute Maid Park.

The Houston Astros jumped on Anderson for six runs in less than three innings, and they added three more against Angels’ relievers in a 9-7 victory. The last-place Angels (62-92) lost their second straight, while the first-place Astros (84-70) are seemingly closing in on a fourth consecutive AL West title.

In his shortest start since 2021, Anderson’s struggles were largely of his own doing, though it went well beyond standard pitching miscues. In fact, three of Anderson’s six runs allowed were unearned – but they came due to his own error.

With one out and a runner on first base in the third, Anderson jammed Jeremy Peña with an inside cutter to induce a weak pop-up back to the mound. Yet, Anderson whiffed on the catch and subsequently overthrew second base on what would have been a routine force out.

Two batters later – and with two outs in an inning that should have been over – Jake Meyers pulled a three-run home run to left, giving the Astros a commanding 6-1 lead. It was Houston’s second blast of the frame, with Alex Bregman having already smashed a two-run shot to center.

In 2⅔ innings, Anderson (10-14) took the loss while finishing with the same number of hits allowed as outs recorded (eight). His season-long ERA only increased from 3.60 to 3.70, due to half of the runs being unearned, but that was of little consolation in the visiting dugout.

Even so, the Angels showed fight and refused to go quietly. Journeyman second baseman Jack López, who entered with one RBI, exceeded his entire career total with two RBI singles off struggling Astros starter Justin Verlander. Third baseman Eric Wagaman and catcher Matt Thaiss, among the Angels’ depth players getting more late-season opportunities, each added multiple hits and two RBIs. Verlander, who allowed eight hits in 4⅔ innings, was charged with six runs – although five came after he was pitching with a sizable lead.

In a back-and-forth slugfest, both teams scored off relievers, as well. Houston’s Kyle Tucker tied his career-high with four hits, including a sixth-inning solo homer. Kevin Pillar, activated from the injured list earlier in the day, homered in the seventh in his return for the Angels. The seven runs scored by a previously struggling offense were the Angels’ most since Sept. 4.

But on this night, too much damage had already been done, as the Angels never got any closer than two runs after that disastrous third inning.

More to come on this story.