HOUSTON (AP) — C.J. Wilson’s run of solid starts for the Los Angeles Angels came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night.
Wilson was knocked out in the fourth inning, and the Angels went on to an 8-3 loss to the Houston Astros.
“I think it was one of those games where C.J. just never got into a groove,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. “Just wasn’t quite as crisp as he needed to be.”
Wilson (10-9) was charged with five runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings. The veteran left-hander struck out four and walked one.
Wilson was 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in his previous four starts.
“The team deserved a better result than that tonight,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that that’s all I had out there today.”
Houston star Jose Altuve had four hits for the second straight game, and Brad Peacock threw 6 1-3 solid innings.
Altuve became the first Astro to accomplish that feat since Lance Berkman in May 2008. Altuve’s homer in the third extended Houston’s lead to 4-0 and was his sixth straight plate appearance with a hit.
Robbie Grossman had three hits for Houston, and Jason Castro added two hits and two RBIs.
The Astros jumped on Wilson for three runs in the first.
Grossman had a leadoff double, and Altuve, Dexter Fowler and Chris Carter followed with singles. Fowler and Carter’s hits drove in runs before Castro capped the inning with a sacrifice fly.
“The first guy I threw two pitches wide of the zone and then all strikes after that,” Wilson said. “I threw a lot of strikes tonight, near that magical 60 percent mark I guess which doesn’t turn out to be any consolation when you only throw 3 1-3 or whatever.”
Gordon Beckham had three hits for the AL West-leading Angels, who had won six in a row.
Peacock (4-8) gave up three runs and four hits in his first win since July 8 at Texas. Houston has won four of its last five.
“I think the early runs helped him,” Scioscia said of Peacock. “I think he got very comfortable, moved his fastball around and we missed some fastballs that we had opportunity to hit.”
Beckham scored on an error in the sixth and drove in Erick Aybar in Los Angeles’ two-run seventh. Aybar extended his hit streak to a career-high 17 games with a double in the seventh.
UP NEXT
The short two-game series wraps up with the Angels sending RHP Jered Weaver (15-7) to the mound looking to continue his recent solid pitching. Weaver is 8-1 with a 3.47 ERA since June 21. Houston counters with RHP Collin McHugh (7-9), who is looking for his fourth straight win.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Scioscia said reliever Joe Thatcher (sprained left ankle) could be ready to return in seven to 10 days.
Astros: LHP Darin Downs (right oblique) and OF Alex Presley (right oblique) were activated from the disabled list.
REDECORATING
A day after manager Bo Porter was fired, the Astros had already done a bit of redecorating in the clubhouse. The motivational quotes that Porter had placed on the strip of wall above the players’ lockers were gone. Also gone was the large motivational wheel that had been a staple in the clubhouse since Porter arrived.
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