Jose Suarez extends surge, but Angels’ bats remain cold in loss to Astros
Suarez pitches five innings of one-run ball, but Taylor Ward’s leadoff homer is all the Angels can do against Astros starter Yusei Kikuchi and a trio of veteran relievers in a 3-1 defeat
The Angels’ Taylor Ward, left, celebrates with teammate Logan O’Hoppe, center, as Ward returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward watches the flight of his solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward runs the bases after hitting a leadoff home run during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini, left, visits starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi at the mound during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels starting pitcher José Suarez throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels starting pitcher José Suarez throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubón fields a ball and throws to first base during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels third baseman Eric Wagaman commits a throwing error on a ground ball hit by the Houston Astros’ Jeremy Peña during the second inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels starting pitcher José Suarez throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Angels second baseman Jack López catches the ball before tagging out the Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman, who was trying to steal second, during the third inning on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Angels second baseman Jack López catches the Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman (2), who was trying to steal, during the third inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
The Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez looks on after batting during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubón, top, loses control of the ball as the Angels’ Jordyn Adams safely steals second during the fourth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña fields an infield single hit by the Angels’ Jordyn Adams during the fourth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels third baseman Eric Wagaman reacts after committing a fielding error on a ground ball hit by the Houston Astros’ Yainer Diaz during the fourth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
The Houston Astros’ Yainer Diaz celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher José Suarez throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston, Texas. Suarez allowed one unearned run in five innings in a 3-1 loss. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros’ Victor Caratini hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels second baseman Jack López throws out the Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman on a ground ball during the fifth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi celebrates after pitching during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Angels second baseman Jack López, right, throws to first to complete a double play after forcing out the Houston Astros’ Yainer Diaz at second during the sixth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels third baseman Eric Wagaman holds his throw after fielding an infield single hit by the Houston Astros’ Jon Singleton during the seventh inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Angels second baseman Jack López, right, throws to first to try to complete a double play after forcing out the Houston Astros’ Kyle Tucker at second during the eighth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
The Houston Astros’ Jon Singleton hits a two-run double during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
The Houston Astros’ Jon Singleton tosses his bat after hitting a two-run double during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros’ Yainer Diaz celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a two-run double by Jon Singleton during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
The Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, right, celebrates with teammate Mauricio Dubón after scoring a run during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Houston Astros center fielder Jason Heyward makes a diving catch on a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Jordyn Adams during the ninth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros center fielder Jason Heyward, center, holds up the ball after making a diving catch on a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Jordyn Adams as umpire Rob Drake, left, signals an out and Mauricio Dubón, right, celebrates during the ninth inning on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
The Houston Astros’ Jason Heyward, center, Mauricio Dubón, right, and Jeremy Peña celebrate after the final out of their 3-1 victory over the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader, left, and center fielder Jason Heyward celebrate after their 3-1 victory over the Angels on Thursday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
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The Angels’ Taylor Ward, left, celebrates with teammate Logan O’Hoppe, center, as Ward returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday night in Houston. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
HOUSTON — Jose Suarez showed more promising signs in his return to the starting rotation, but the Angels were once again plagued by poor run support in Thursday night’s 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Jon Singleton provided the decisive margin with a two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning off Ryan Miller.
“Singleton won the battle,” Angels manager Ron Washington said after Miller’s 79-mile-per-hour sweeper was poked to left field.
Singleton’s opposite-field hit scored Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker, who had both walked. The Angels intentionally walked Victor Caratini with two outs to load the bases, which made it more likely for Singleton to get a pitch in the zone.
Nonetheless, the frustration was again primarily with a lack of offense. Since the All-Star break, the Angels (.216) and are second-to-last in OPS (.644), and they’ve scored the third-fewest runs in baseball (215) over those 57 games.
That trend continued in Houston. Taylor Ward blasted his 25th home run of the season and his fifth leadoff blast (all of those in the past 19 games), tying him for fifth-most in MLB. However, that was the only offense the Angels could muster versus Astros starter Yusei Kikuchi and a trio of veteran relievers in Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader. Los Angeles struck out 11 times while walking only once and went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
“We had some more opportunities to maybe scratch a run, here and there,” said Washington, whose team squandered a one-out Zach Neto double in the top of the eighth when Nolan Schanuel and Brandon Drury each grounded out. “We just couldn’t do it, and they got us in the [bottom].”
With Thursday’s loss, the Angels (62-91) had a two-game winning streak snapped, while the AL West-leading Astros (83-70) moved closer to clinching a fourth straight division title. They lead Seattle by five games with nine to play.
Hitting aside, there was plenty to like for the Angels. Making his second start of the year – both against the Astros – Suarez again kept them off-balance with five innings of one-run ball (none earned). The 26-year-old gave up three hits and two walks while striking out five, and he’s lowered his ERA from 8.15 to 6.08 since rejoining the Angels on Sept. 9.
In 12 September innings since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, Suarez has allowed just that one unearned run while striking out 14 and allowing only eight hits.
“It’s confidence, 100 percent,” said Suarez, speaking through a translator, of what has changed. “Throw the baseball and don’t think too much. I don’t lose my focus.”
“He was able to take the adversity that happened to him and make it work in his favor,” said Washington, whose team designated Suarez for assignment in June. “Now, he’s pitching with intent.”
For Suarez, who hasn’t given up an earned run against a strong Astros lineup featuring the likes of Alvarez, Tucker, and Alex Bregman, it’s a confidence builder.
“It’s a good team full of great hitters,” Suarez said. “But you have to attack and execute your pitches, and I was good at that today. I was attacking with my fastball, sweeper, changeup, and slider. It was all working.”
In 2021 and 2022, Suarez posted a combined 3.86 ERA in 207.1 innings, with 34 of his 45 appearances coming as a starter. But he missed much of 2023 with shoulder problems, and he struggled in a relief role to start 2024 – which led to his demotion.
But after returning to health, he’s now seemingly returning to form, as well. Suarez said he expects to get another start before the season ends, and it will be one more opportunity to make an impression on the Angels before 2025.
“He battled,” Washington surmised of Suarez’s latest showing. “He used his changeup quite a bit. He pitched out there tonight, and to get through that lineup … it was stressful. It wasn’t easy. It might have looked easy, but it certainly wasn’t.”