Astros Take Series Behind Offensive Surge in Anaheim
Astros vs Angels Recap: Houston sealed a thrilling 8–7 rubber match win Sunday at Angel Stadium. Fueled by two home runs from Mauricio Dubón and a big day at the plate from Jeremy Peña, Houston secured its ninth win in the last 12 games.
Dubón crushed two solo shots, marking just the second multi-homer game of his career, while Peña chipped in a homer, a double, and two runs scored. Jake Meyers and Christian Walker also had key contributions as Houston’s bats roared back twice in a back-and-forth affair.
O’Hoppe Makes History Before Astros Rally
O’Hoppe’s 17th homer, a two-run shot, gave Angels a 2–0 lead and set franchise history. Taylor Ward had doubled ahead of him to set the stage.
But the Astros quickly responded in the top of the fifth with a four-run rally. Dubón and Peña each hit solo home runs to tie the game. Then, a costly two-out error by Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo allowed Meyers to cross the plate. Walker followed with an RBI double, giving Houston a 4–2 lead.
Four-Run Inning Gives Astros Breathing Room
Nolan Schanuel gave the Angels a brief 5–4 lead in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run homer, his sixth of the season. However, the Astros kept attacking.
In the sixth, Dubón launched his second homer of the game—a two-run blast to retake the lead. Peña followed with an RBI double, and Meyers added a sacrifice fly, giving Houston their second consecutive four-run inning and an 8–5 cushion.
Hader Earns 19th Save Despite Scare.
Houston starter Ryan Gusto earned the win, pitching six innings with six hits, seven strikeouts, and no walks allowed. Bryan Abreu came in clutch in the seventh, striking out Mike Trout on three sliders with two runners aboard.
Josh Hader, perfect in save chances this year, made it enjoyable in the ninth. Zach Neto, pinch-hitting, drilled his first career pinch-hit home run to pull the Angels within one. Schanuel doubled with two outs, putting the tying run in scoring position. But Hader bounced back, getting Trout to line out to center and locking down his 19th save in as many tries.
Momentum Builds As All-Star Break Nears
With Sunday’s win, the Astros continue to gain traction following a sluggish beginning to the season. Dubón and Peña stepped up, supporting stars as Gusto and others shine under mounting pressure.
Meanwhile, the Angels’ loss highlights the inconsistency that has plagued them all year—even with strong individual performances from O’Hoppe and Schanuel.
Final Thoughts
Sunday’s thriller was a perfect example of what Astros baseball is all about—resilience, timely hitting, and a bullpen that knows how to close. This Astros vs Angels recap shows Houston gaining momentum before the All-Star break, emerging as a dangerous second-half contender.