Astros 1 - 4 Angels
Final
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Angels eye first series win of season against Astros

Apr 14, 2013 - 1:44 PM (Sports Network) - Perhaps Saturday's win can serve as a jumping off point for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Mike Scioscia's club eyes its first series win of the season on Sunday when they wrap up a three-game set against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium.

Los Angeles' five-game losing streak went by the wayside on Saturday, as Albert Pujols' game-winning, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Halos to a 5-4 win.

Luis Jimenez worked a one-out walk against Jose Veras (0-1) before J.B. Shuck flew out to left. Mike Trout then recorded an infield single when Marwin Gonzalez couldn't handle his grounder in the hole on the left side. Pujols stepped up next and ripped a sharply-hit grounder down the third-base line to bring home Jimenez and Trout to avoid the Angels' worst start in franchise history.

Pujols' 15th career walk-off hit also snapped a four-game home losing streak to start the campaign.

"I thank god I came through, hopefully this win will get us going," Pujols said.

Josh Hamilton smacked his first homer as an Angel, while Michael Roth (1-0) struck out four over two shutout innings to pick up the win.

"It's good to get that first one out of the way," Hamilton said of his homer. "When the ball hit the barrel, it felt nice and easy. Everything just flowed with the swing."

Chris Carter smacked a two-run homer among his two hits and scored twice for Houston, which had its three-game winning streak stopped.

"A tough loss, Albert Pujols is Albert Pujols. He's one of the best players for a reason. It's unfortunate because these guys played their hearts out," Astros manager Bo Porter said.

Hoping to keep the Angels in the win column on Sunday will be left-hander C.J. Wilson, who has yet to record a decision in two starts, but has pitched to a 5.25 ERA. Wilson was not impressive against Oakland on Tuesday, as he allowed four runs and six hits in six innings of a 9-5 loss.

However, he owns a 3-1 lifetime mark with a 3.68 ERA in 14 games (3 starts) versus the Astros.

Houston, meanwhile, will counter with righty Philip Humber, who has lost both of his starts, but has yet to receive a run of support this season. Humber's latest loss came on Monday in Seattle, as he surrendered three runs and five hits in six innings.

Humber is 0-1 in three games (2 starts) with a 5.68 ERA against the Angels.

This is Houston's first visit to Anaheim since 2007 when the Angels took two of three. The Astros had won two of three the first time they squared off in 2004.






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