Castro, Kazmir dazzle as Astros shut out Angels

American League

Houston catcher Jason Castro (center) celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Thursday.
Houston catcher Jason Castro (center) celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Thursday.

ASTROS 3, ANGELS 0

HOUSTON -- Few expected the Houston Astros to be contenders entering this season.

Perhaps fewer still can doubt that they have become exactly that.

Jason Castro hit a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Astros a 3-0 victory and a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.

The victory moves first-place Houston two games ahead of the Angels in the AL West.

"We've continued to fight on and prove that we deserve to be here," Castro said.

It was 0-0 to start the bottom of the ninth inning. Jed Lowrie drew a walk off Jose Alvarez (2-2) with one out before a two-out single by Marwin Gonzalez. Castro then launched his two-out shot off Fernando Salas into the seats in right field to give Houston the victory.

"This has been a fun run so far to get to this point," Manager A.J. Hinch said. "You can downplay it only so much but the resiliency in this team and the methodical continuation of how we approach our games every day is really fun to be a part of."

Luke Gregerson (4-1) pitched a scoreless ninth to complete the three-hitter and get the victory.

Scott Kazmir allowed 3 hits and struck out 5 in 7 2/3 innings in the first start for the Astros in his hometown and his second since a trade from the Oakland Athletics. He's been dazzling in his first two starts for the Astros, throwing 14 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing just six hits.

Kazmir allowed one earned run this month to give him a major league-leading 0.26 ERA in July.

"This month, being able to use all my pitches and being able to have a feel for them in any count, that's been the key," Kazmir said.

Angels starter Matt Shoemaker was equally as good, scattering 3 hits over 7 innings with 7 strikeouts.

Los Angeles center fielder Mike Trout was 0 for 3 in his return after missing two games with an injured left wrist.

The Angels have dropped five of their last six.

"We had a tough week," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We didn't do a lot of the things we've been doing ... we need to regroup and start to build momentum again."

Kole Calhoun gave Los Angeles its first hit since the second inning with a single with one out in the sixth, but Kazmir retired the next five hitters. Johnny Giavotella singled to start the eighth and became the first Angel to reach second on a fly out. Shane Victorino drew a walk before Giavotella took third on a wild pitch.

Kazmir escaped the jam and ended his night by striking out Calhoun.

As he walked off the field, Kazmir, who grew up less than 30 miles from the ballpark in Cypress, Texas, tipped his cap to acknowledge a rousing standing ovation.

"Felt the love for sure," he said. "So what more can I say, just excited to be here."

TIGERS 9, ORIOLES 8 Yoenis Cespedes homered and drove in three runs, and Detroit beat host Baltimore after shifting into rebuilding mode by trading two of their best pitchers. Detroit finished with 16 hits, including three apiece by Cespedes, Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias.

RED SOX 8, WHITE SOX 2 Xander Bogaerts and David Ortiz each had three hits, and Boston beat Chris Sale and visiting Chicago, snapping the White Sox's seven-game winning streak. Knuckleballer Steven Wright (4-4) pitched seven effective innings in Boston's third victory in 15 games.

TWINS 9, MARINERS 5 Eddie Rosario finished a single shy of the cycle and drove in three runs to help host Minnesota snap a four-game skid with a victory over Seattle. Phil Hughes (10-6) gave up 5 runs on 10 hits and struck out 5 in 5 innings and Joe Mauer extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

RANGERS 7, YANKEES 6 Josh Hamilton delivered a game-ending RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning and host Texas beat AL East-leading New York. Hamilton also had a three-run home run for the Rangers, who scored the winning run after a wild ninth to split the four-game series.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 9, ROCKIES 8 Matt Carpenter hit a pair of home runs and Greg Garcia's bases-loaded walk capped a three-run rally in the ninth inning as St. Louis beat visiting Colorado. Carpenter went 4 for 5 with four RBI after moving back to the leadoff spot.

PHILLIES 4, BRAVES 1 Domonic Brown homered and Aaron Harang snapped his losing streak at eight starts, leading host Philadelphia to a victory over Atlanta. Carlos Ruiz had two RBI and every Phillies starter had at least one hit as they won their 10th game in the 12 since the All-Star break.

REDS 15, PIRATES 5 Brandon Phillips hit a pair of three-run home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs, powering Cincinnati to a victory over visiting Pittsburgh. Marlon Byrd also hit a three-run home run, and Jay Bruce drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly and a double.

CUBS 5, BREWERS 2 Anthony Rizzo hit a three-run home run with two out in the eighth inning, and Chicago beat host Milwaukee. Rizzo finished with three hits and Dexter Fowler went 2 for 4.

NATIONALS 1, MARLINS 0 Max Scherzer scattered three hits over seven innings, Jonathan Papelbon got his first save for Washington with a perfect ninth inning and the visiting Nationals beat Miami.

METS 7, PADRES 5 Justin Upton hit a three-run home run through a driving rain with two outs in the ninth inning, and San Diego stunned host New York as it overcame a six-run deficit during a game delayed nearly four hours by two storms.

Sports on 07/31/2015

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