Angels 6 - 7 Astros
Final
  for this game

Astros bring MLB-worst record into set with Angels

May 7, 2013 - 2:33 PM (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros are the worst team in baseball and hope to get something going Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series versus the LA Angels of Anaheim at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros sport a soggy 8-24 record in their first season in the American League and have lost six in a row and 10 of 11 games. They just lost all four meetings with the Detroit Tigers to kick off a 10-game homestand and dropped a 9-0 decision in Sunday's series finale.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander struck out nine over seven shutout innings, while Astros starter Philip Humber was rattled for eight runs and eight hits, including three homers, in four innings.

"There is a lack of attack of the strike zone, which gets him behind in the count. When you do that against Miguel Cabrera, Torii Hunter, Prince Fielder, these guys are All-Stars for a reason," Astros manager Bo Porter said of Humber.

Houston produced only four hits in the loss and struck out 13 times.

The Astros, who will also host Texas for three games, hope Jordan Lyles can get in the win column when he toes the rubber Tuesday. Lyles will make his second start of the season and did not record a decision in Thursday's 7-3 loss in 14 innings against the Tigers.

Lyles held Detroit to a pair of runs and six hits in five innings.

"He pitched well enough to win the game. He attacked with his fastball and that's a credit to him," Porter said.

The Angels just lost three of four matchups with the Baltimore Orioles and are coming off Sunday's 8-4 loss at the Big A.

Anaheim had a 4-3 advantage heading into the fifth inning, then the Orioles scored the next five runs to take the lead for good. Jerome Williams absorbed the loss for allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings and Dane De La Rosa surrendered three more in relief.

Williams walked three and allowed two homers.

"At times Jerome was perfect, but the walks and home runs hurt him," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "We dug ourselves a hole again. We have to start playing the game to generate wins. We have to pitch better."

Mike Trout homered and scored twice, Alberto Callaspo had two hits, a run scored and an RBI and Howie Kendrick went 2-for-5 with an RBI in defeat.

Taking the mound for the Angels Tuesday will be unbeaten lefty C.J. Wilson. The southpaw is 3-0 with a decent 4.04 earned run average in six starts and beat the Athletics with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball in last Wednesday's 5-4 win in Oakland.

Wilson has been able to pitch at least six innings in five of his six starts and topped Houston in a 4-1 win on April 14, when he permitted one run in six frames. He is 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 career matchups (5 starts) with the Astros.

The Angels took two of three from Houston from April 12-14 in Anaheim.






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