Dallas Keuchel gave up a season-high four runs, but the Houston Astros hit three home runs to back him in their 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.
Keuchel (4-0) had been untouchable to this point in the season, yielding no more than two runs in any of his six starts and keeping his opponent off the scoreboard three times.
He was roughed up for four runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings in this one, but stayed unbeaten thanks to an early offensive outburst.
Houston did all of its damage in the first three innings.
Jose Altuve set the tone with a solo homer in the first, and Chris Carter went deep after Colby Rasmus walked in the second.
Jake Marisnick led off the third inning with a double. Two batters later, Luis Valbuena delivered an RBI single for the fourth Houston run. After Evan Gattis went down swinging, Rasmus delivered his sixth homer of the season.
Matt Shoemaker (2-3) was responsible for all six runs, departing after that three-run third inning.
The Astros did not pick up another hit for the rest of the game. Jose Alvarez kept the Angels in it with three scoreless frames, while Vinnie Pestano, Mike Morin and Ryan Mattheus all gave an inning. The four relievers struck out nine batters without surrendering a hit.
Los Angeles briefly led in the bottom of the first inning, when Erick Aybar plated two with his two-out single to center with the bases loaded.
Carlos Perez made it 6-3 in the fourth with his RBI double, and Angels star Mike Trout crushed his ninth homer of the season -- a solo shot to center -- in the fifth.
Chad Qualls recorded two quick outs in the ninth before Collin Cowgill extended the inning with a dribbler down the third base line. Kole Calhoun then drove him in with a double down the left field line to make it 6-5.
Trout was walked intentionally with first base open, and Qualls got Albert Pujols to ground to shortstop to end the game.
[SportsNetwork.com]
