Angels 6, Astros 5: Baseball is a cruel game

The Astros started like they always do, putting themselves into a hole early. The Angels loaded the bases with a Kole Calhoun single, Mike Trout, and another walk to Albert Pujols. Mike Fiers was able to strikeout David Murphy, but couldn't get C.J. Cron out. It was the same formula all day, the Astros came close but couldn't find a way to shut the door, as they fell 6-5 to the Angels.

Cron hit one back up the middle to score two runs. The other trend of the Astros showed up in the second. As they too loaded the bases, Preston Tucker, Luis Valbuena, and Max Stassi reached. But Jose Altuve wasn't able to drive any runs homes with two outs.

Calhoun added another run in the fifth with an upper deck shot to right. The Astros would answer in the bottom of the fifth with them some luck. Jose Altuve appeared to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, but Erick Aybar's throw was wide. Allowing Altuve and Stassi to move to second and third. George Springer singled home a run, and  Carlos Correa grounded into a force to score a second run.

A moment in the seventh, read like a watershed moment for the Astros as they battled back for the lead. Matt Duffy picked up a pinch hit single, and pinch runner Jake Marisnick stole second. Jose Altuve was intentionally walked, George Springer took that disrespect by hitting a triple -- scoring two.

The joy would only last so long, as Angels would rough up Pat Neshek.  Trout led off the inning with a double, David Murphy walked, and David Freese hit a two-out double -- scoring two. Former Astros prospect Carlos Perez add a third run in the inning with a single.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa continued to fight, scoring a run the ninth but it would be too late. The Astros are now three games behind the Rangers and just one game ahead of the Twins in the Wild Card.