Astros 6 - 1 Angels
Final
  for this game

Red-hot Angels eye 11th straight win

Sep 14, 2014 - 11:56 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Hector Santiago tries to stay undefeated since the All- Star break and help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim get a step closer to an American League West title on Sunday when they close out a three-game set with the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium.

Santiago is 4-0 with a 2.04 ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances since the Midsummer Classic and a big reason why the Angels currently have the best record in the majors at 93-55 and an 11-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the division.

He had been 1-7 with a 4.72 ERA in 12 starts before the break.

Santiago was again solid on Tuesday in Texas, as he held the woeful Rangers to a run and five hits over five innings to run his record to 5-7, while lowering his ERA to 3.38.

Los Angeles continued to roll on Saturday, as Mike Trout homered twice to lead the Angels to a 5-2 victory.

Albert Pujols, Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar each drove in a run and Trout finished 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored for the Angels, who won their 10th straight game for the first time since Aug. 29-Sept. 8, 2002.

Los Angeles, which hasn't won 11 straight since June 16-26, 1964, now holds a magic number of four for clinching the AL West.

"It's fun playing in September when it means something," said Trout. "I'm just having fun."

Jered Weaver (17-8) tossed a solid game, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk to go with a season-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings of work. Weaver leads American League pitchers with 17 wins.

"Weaver was tough. He changed speeds on us," Astros interim manager Tom Lawless said. "You tip your cap to him."

Jose Altuve hit an RBI double and Robbie Grossman drove in a run for Houston, which has dropped the first two games of this three-game set.

Scott Feldman (8-11) was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on eight hits across six frames.

Houston will hand the ball on Sunday to lefty Dallas Keuchel, who is 10-9 with a 3.06 ERA. Keuchel did not get a decision last Sunday versus Oakland, as he allowed three runs (2 earned) and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 4-3 win.

He's 0-2 with a 3.14 ERA in his last seven starts.

"I'll stay stuck on 10 wins for the rest of the year if we win," said Keuchel.

Keuchel is 3-1 with a 5.89 ERA in seven games (6 starts) versus the Angels.

Los Angeles is 12-6 versus the Astros this season.






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