ANAHEIM, Calif., April 13 (UPI) -- Justin Maxwell drove in a run in each of the first two innings Friday and Houston went on shut out the Los Angeles Angels 5-0.
After losing six games in a row, the Astros have captured three in a row. The struggling Angels have dropped five straight and have just two victories in their first eight games of the season.
Bud Norris and three relievers combined on the shutout, limiting the Angels to four hits. Norris (2-1) went seven innings, giving up three of the hits while striking out five.
The Astros sent eight men to the plate in the first inning and took a 3-0 lead on an RBI double from Maxwell and a two-run single by Rick Ankiel.
Maxwell hit a solo homer in the second and Ankiel doubled home another run in the third.
Los Angeles put no more than one runner on base in any inning. The loss went to Tommy Hanson (1-1), who gave up all five runs on eight hits in five innings.
