Scuffling Angels Turn To 22-Year-Old Stud To Even Series Against Astros

The Los Angeles Angels lost its series opener against the Houston Astros 5-4 in 10 innings after a heads-up base-running play by second baseman Jose Altuve, marking its fifth loss in seven June games.

On a shallow popup just on the outfield grass hit to Angels second baseman Nick Madrigal, Altuve tagged and scored after Madrigal’s throw got away from catcher Logan O’Hoppe. As much as it was heads-up on Altuve’s part, it was a poor play on Los Angeles’ defense.

The Angels had a three-run lead in the second inning after Trey Mancini collected his first RBI since July 2023 and O’Hoppe doubled to bring in two, but the Astros came back to tie it on three separate run-scoring doubles in the third and sixth innings.

Angels shortstop Zach Neto hit a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh but the Halos couldn’t hold the lead. Astros first baseman Christian Walker drove in the tying run and his second of the night in the ninth on his second hit in four at-bats before the fateful Altuve run in the 10th.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez took the ball for the Angels and pitched well, throwing 5.1 innings of two-run ball on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Astros righty Spencer Arrighetti allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while fanning seven across six innings.

Los Angeles will turn to its 22-year-old right-handed sensation Walbert Urena to get back in the win column against right-hander Kai-Wei Teng, who has been good since joining the starting rotation last month.

Urena has been great since joining the starting rotation as well, holding opponents to a .195 batting average and .611 OPS. He is 3-4 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 48 strikeouts through 11 games (nine starts, 50.1 innings).

His last time out he had a quality start against the Colorado Rockies, throwing six three-run innings on three hits and three walks while fanning seven.

Teng came out of the bullpen during his first 13 appearances but stepped into the starting rotation due to injuries. The 27-year-old is 3-4 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 44 strikeouts through 19 games (six starts, 47 innings).

In his last outing, Teng threw five innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out just one against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

First pitch is at 6:38 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.