Zach Neto paired a five-hit game with a career-best seven RBIs to pace the visiting Los Angeles Angels to an 18-3 dismantling of the Houston Astros in the rubber match of a three-game intradivision series on Thursday.
The Angels recorded 18 hits en route to a season-high run total. They erased a 2-1 deficit with a three-run top of the second inning before sending 10 batters to the plate in their six-run fourth.
Moises Ballesteros keyed the three-run second inning with a leadoff double, his first extra-base hit since joining the Angels at the trade deadline. Vaughn Grissom followed with a game-tying run-scoring single before Tyler Heineman and Adam Frazer recorded RBIs with a safety squeeze bunt and a fielder’s choice grounder, respectively.
Astros right-hander Peter Lambert (8-7) appeared to right the ship by retiring the Angels in order in the third. However, he didn’t survive the fourth inning after surrendering an RBI double to Frazier that scored Josh Lowe and an RBI single to Neto that plated Frazier.
Astros left-hander Bryan King was summoned with the bases loaded, and he allowed consecutive two-run hits to Ballesteros and Grissom that extended the Angels’ lead to 10-2.
Lambert allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts entering his 22nd start of the season. The Angels saddled him with nine runs on eight hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. Lambert surrendered season highs in runs and hits while retiring a season-low 11 batters.
The Angels tagged King for four more runs in the fifth. Neto struck the biggest blow with a three-run homer to center that pushed the lead to 14-2. Frazer and Nolan Schanuel scored on the blast, the 21st of the year for Neto, who added a two-run double in the seventh.
Neto finished 5-for-6. Grissom went 3-for-6 with three RBIs while Ballesteros, Lowe and Frazier posted two hits apiece.
Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (4-5) was the beneficiary of the run support. He allowed two unearned runs in the bottom of the first but cruised the rest of his outing, allowing five hits and two walks while notching six strikeouts over seven innings.
The Astros have dropped consecutive series at home to opponents with losing records. Their lead over the Texas Rangers in the American League West dropped to one game.