Yordan Alvarez powered the Houston Astros to victory on Saturday night with a clutch two-run homer in the fifth inning, securing a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. Justin Verlander earned his first win in over three months, pitching five solid innings for the division-leading Astros (80-68), who have now taken the first two games of the three-game series. The win keeps Houston 4 1/2 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West race.
Verlander (4-6), battling through injury and struggles, allowed just two runs on four hits with two walks, striking out two. His last win came back on May 24 after missing more than two months with a neck injury. In his four starts since returning, he went 0-4 with a 9.68 ERA.
Houston struck early when Jose Altuve scored on a wild pitch in the first, but the Angels responded with an RBI single by Nolan Schanuel. The Angels briefly took the lead in the fourth when Eric Wagaman recorded his first career hit, a run-scoring double. However, the Astros quickly regained control in the fifth, as Alvarez’s two-run blast followed an Altuve leadoff single, giving Houston a 3-2 lead. Jeremy Peña then added another run after a single, steal, and a Victor Caratini RBI single.
The Angels threatened in the eighth inning, loading the bases with one out. Logan O’Hoppe drove in a run with a single, but Jake Meyers’ strong throw home caught Schanuel trying to score the tying run, preserving the Astros’ lead. Kyle Tucker added insurance with a pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth.
Astros closer Ryan Pressly recorded a five-out save, while Angels starter Tyler Anderson (10-13) took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits over five innings.