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![The Astros’ Alex Bregman, left, slides into second base for a double as Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons is late with the tag in the second inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)]()
The Astros’ Alex Bregman, left, slides into second base for a double as Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons is late with the tag in the second inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)
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![Angels second baseman Danny Espinosa throws out the Astros’ Brian McCann on a ground ball in the second inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)]()
Angels second baseman Danny Espinosa throws out the Astros’ Brian McCann on a ground ball in the second inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)
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![Angels starter Matt Shoemaker pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)]()
Angels starter Matt Shoemaker pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)
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![The Astros’ Carlos Beltran is congratulated by third base coach Gary Pettis after hitting a solo home run against the Angels in the first inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)]()
The Astros’ Carlos Beltran is congratulated by third base coach Gary Pettis after hitting a solo home run against the Angels in the first inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)
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![Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. pitches against the Angels in the first inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)]()
Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. pitches against the Angels in the first inning Thursday. (AP Photo/George Bridges)
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HOUSTON — At least the Angels’ ended their trip with a bang, if not a victory.
After enduring a quiet afternoon and managing just three hits in eight scoreless innings, the Angels mounted a ninth-inning rally on Thursday afternoon.
Unfortunately, it still came up short, as they left the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base in a 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros, their sixth loss in seven games on the trip.
They have lost eight of nine overall, hitting .185 and averaging 1.8 runs in the skid.
Although they didn’t do much for most of the afternoon, stymied by Astros starter Lance McCullers, they at least made it interesting in the ninth against Chris Devenski. Mike Trout led off with a homer to cut the lead to 2-1.
An out later, C.J. Cron singled and then Andrelton Simmons singled. Pinch-runner Cliff Pennington and Simmons executed a double-steal to move into scoring position while Cameron Maybin was up.
Maybin struck out, though. Danny Espinosa then struck out to end it.
On the bright side, Matt Shoemaker pitched his best game of the season, allowing just two runs in seven innings.
In fact, in the past five games each Angels starter has managed his best game of the season, as they’ve combined for a 2.23 ERA over the past five games.
Shoemaker gave up a homer to Carlos Beltran in the first and a towering blast to Jake Marisnick in the fifth. Otherwise, he was dominant. The only other hit he allowed was a ball that right fielder Kole Calhoun nearly caught after a long run into the gap.
Shoemaker’s few mistakes were still too many on a day when he got no offensive support.
Of the few baserunners the Angels had, they lost two of them by hitting into double plays.
In the fifth, after Simmons reached with the team’s first hit of the day, he got picked off first in a strange play. Simmons had taken a huge lead, but was neither trying to go to second nor trying to get back to first after catcher Brian McCann had the ball. McCann seemed almost surprised to see Simmons just standing there when he hesitated before throwing to first to get the easy run-down.
In the sixth, Trout came to the plate with a runner on, representing the potential tying run, but McCullers struck him on a 97 mph fastball.