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Astros subdue Halos; Trout leaves with injury

Jun 4, 2014 - 6:06 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Collin McHugh tossed five scoreless innings and Houston used an early burst of offense to subdue the Angels, 7-2, in Tuesday's opener of a three-game series.

Jason Castro and Robbie Grossman each hit a two-run single during a five-run third inning for the Astros, who snapped a two-game slide and have taken eight of 10 overall. Jonathan Singleton had a productive MLB debut with a home run and two RBI, and Chris Carter also went deep.

McHugh (4-3) fanned four, walked two and gave up just two hits for the win.

"Truthfully I didn't have very good stuff today," said McHugh. "Didn't have very good command today. As a starting pitcher you want to go deep in games. I'm not trying to go five innings every game."

Collin Cowgill and Josh Hamilton each hit a solo shot for the Angels, who lost the game and center fielder Mike Trout with mid-back discomfort.

"I'm sure he's frustrated," Hamilton said of Trout. "I don't think he's ever really had any injuries. It's part of the learning and growing process."

C.J. Wilson (6-5) lasted just 2 2/3 frames, charged with six hits and five runs and five walks as LA dropped its fourth straight game.

Houston broke through and chased Wilson thanks to that burst in its third turn at the plate. Jonathan Villar and Dexter Fowler worked walks to start the frame, then George Springer walked after Jose Altuve fanned. Castro followed with a two-run single, Matt Dominguez added a base hit, then Singleton forced in another run with a base on balls. Two batters later, a two-run hit from Grossmann forced Wilson out for Mike Morin, who grounded Villar out to end the rally.

After McHugh, Darin Downs retired the side in order in the sixth. Josh Fields then had a quiet seventh.

Cowgill finally gave the Angels some life with an eighth-inning solo homer off Fields. Hamilton then cleared the wall in right off Tony Sipp for his third longball of the season -- all coming in Houston.

Singleton's blast to right center and Carter's solo shot just inside the foul pole in right secured a 7-2 edge for the Astros in the home half.

Game Notes

Singleton became the fourth Astros player to homer in his big league debut, and the first since Mark Saccomanno on Sept. 8, 2008 against Pittsburgh ... Prior to the contest, Springer was named the top rookie in the American League ... Before the game, the Angels activated Hamilton from the 15-day disabled list, optioned pitcher Michael Kohn to Triple-A Salt Lake, selected the contract of pitcher Cam Bedrosian from Double-A Arkansas, transferred pitcher Sean Burnett to the 60-day disabled list, reinstated pitcher Dane De La Rosa from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Salt Lake ... Trout had an 11-game hit streak snapped with his early exit.