Angels 10, Astros 4: Curtain starts to close on Astros’ Wild Card hopes

The Houston Astros entered the four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels full of hope and less than two games out of the AL Wild Card. The Astros were 11-1 against the Halos in 2016, so it is easy to imagine the Astros would continue to climb in the Wild Card rankings.

But that isn’t what has happened.

The Astros were shutout on Thursday and the bullpen has given up 16 runs over the past two games.

Nine of those runs came on Saturday night in the Astros’ 10-4 loss to the Angels at Minute Maid Park on Saturday.

Everything was going well for Houston through seven innings. Brad Peacock, again, did what he needed to do. He allowed just one run on one hit while striking out seven.

In the seventh, George Springer broke open the game with a triple that got by Mike Trout, scoring Jake Marisnick from first base. Yulieski Gurriel brought Springer home with a two-out single.

The Astros led 4-1 after seven innings.

Chris Devenski entered his third inning of work in eighth inning. The Angels were able to square him up with singles from Rafael Ortega, Yunel Escobar and, Kole Calhoun -- cutting Houston lead to 4-2. Luke Gregerson entered the game, allowing two more singles from Mike Trout and Albert Pujols and a sacrifice fly to put the Angels up 5-4.

Jandel Gustave and Kevin Chapman couldn't hold the Angels offense in the ninth, allowing five runs.

Houston is now three games back of the final Wild Card spot.