Angels 2, Astros 1
Houston -- Los Angeles right-hander Jerome Williams limited the Houston Astros to a run and five hits in seven innings Sunday afternoon in a 2-1 Angels' win at Minute Maid Park.
Andrew Romine's fifth-inning sacrifice fly scored Erick Aybar with the winning run for the Angels.
Williams (8-10) gave way in the eighth to reliever Dane De La Rosa, who allowed two baserunners before Ernesto Frieri struck out Trevor Crowe and Brett Wallace to end the threat.
In the ninth, Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez singled to right on the 12th pitch of his at-bat against Frieri and was replaced by pinch runner Jimmy Paredes. But Frieri struck out first baseman Chris Carter, got Marc Krauss on a foul pop to third baseman Romine and struck out pinch hitter Brandon Laird to end the game.
Astros starter Paul Clemens (4-5) took the hard-luck loss while holding the Angels to six hits and two runs in seven innings with a walk and two strikeouts.
Los Angeles scored first as Mike Trout drew a two-out walk in the top of the first, becoming the first player in American League history to record 70 extra-base hits, 30 stolen bases and 100 walks in a season. He stole second, his 33rd steal of the season, and scored on a Josh Hamilton's triple.
The Astros tied it in the second when Mark Krauss smacked a 2-2 pitch into the lower deck in right field for his fourth homer of the season.
Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead in the fifth, but the Angels ran themselves out of what could have been a bigger inning. Aybar singled, went to third on Hank Conger's single to right and scored on Romine's sacrifice fly to left. But Conger dawdled getting back to first, and Villar took the cutoff throw from left fielder Kraus and fired to first baseman Chris Carter to get the double play.
NOTES: Astros rookie catcher Max Stassi, who is on the seven-day concussion disabled list, caught a bullpen session Sunday, one day after taking batting practice on the field for the first time since he suffered a concussion Aug. 21. ... Astros' players worked the ticket scanners and handed out promotional items as fans arrived to Minute Maid Park on Sunday afternoon from about 12:15-12:45 p.m. ... 3B Luis Jiminez was not in the lineup Sunday after leaving Saturday's game with injured thumbs. He was hit by a pitch on his right thumb and also hurt his left thumb sliding into home. On Sunday, he said his thumbs felt a little better and that he expected to miss only a few days. The Angels recalled infielder Tommy Field from Triple-A Salt Lake just in case.
