Tyler Anderson leads Angels to series victory in Houston.
The left-hander gives up just six hits in eight innings and lowers his ERA to 2.52 in a 2-1 win against the Astros.
HOUSTON — When Tyler Anderson looked at his performance last year, it wasn’t merely the runs he allowed that frustrated him.
It was the innings he pitched. Or lack thereof.
“I felt like last year I would go four or five innings every start,” Anderson said, “and I took that personal.”
It’s been a dramatic reversal this season. With eight innings in the Angels’ 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon, Anderson has pitched at least seven innings in half of his 10 starts.
The first Angels starter to work eight innings this season, Anderson cut his ERA to 2.52.
The Angels needed all that he gave them in this game, because the bullpen was tapped from two recent extra-inning games, and the offense provided little margin for error, managing only two runs on Kyren Paris’ first career homer.
“It all started with T.A.,” Manager Ron Washington said. “He’s showing what it’s about to lead. … I can’t say enough of what he did and what he’s been doing and what he has done in the past. So it’s very important for our young pitchers to see what it’s like to go out there and leave everything you have on the field. He did that for us today. And got us an opportunity to get a win.”
The victory lifted the Angels (20-30) to a second straight series win on the trip to play the Texas Rangers and Astros.
The Angels, however, are coming home with one issue threatening to disturb all the good feelings.
