Jon Singleton's two-run double in the eighth inning helps the Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Angels

HOUSTON – Jon Singleton's game-winning two-run, two-out double in the eighth inning helped the Houston Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.

The game was tied 1-1 when Ryan Miller (0-1) walked Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker to start the eighth inning. A fielder's choice grounder by Yainer Diaz sent Alvarez to third base.

Jeremy Peña was grounded out of the game by a ball that rolled right in front of the batter's box before the Angels intentionally walked Victor Caratini to load the bases.

Singleton then hit his two-strike double, a line drive to center field to score Alvarez and Diaz.

“It means a lot to me,” said Singleton. “Any time you get a chance like this to contribute to the club, it's a good feeling.”

Houston's magic number to win the AL West dropped to five.

Yusei Kikuchi allowed five hits and one run and struck out nine players in six innings, helping the Astros improve their record to 9-0 in his nine starts since being traded from Toronto on July 29.

“He throws strikes, he's a fighter,” manager Joe Espada said. “The guys like playing behind him. We expect a win every time he's on the mound. When he steps on the mound, you feel his attitude and his energy.”

Since joining Houston, he has a 5-0 record, a 3.00 ERA and an opposing batting average of .189 with 68 strikeouts.

“As soon as I got traded, my mindset was I'm going to win every game for this ballclub, every time I'm out there on the mound,” Kikuchi said through an interpreter. “So it seems to be working out right now.”

Taylor Ward hit a home run as the first batter for the Angels, who went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and ended a two-game winning streak.

Zach Neto doubled with one out in the eighth inning and moved to third on a groundout by Nolan Schanuel, but Bryan Abreu (3-3) put Brandon Drury out of action with a grounder.

Josh Hader threw a scoreless ninth inning for his 32nd save.

Ward hit his fifth leadoff home run in the last 19 games. It was his 25th home run of the season, making him the ninth left fielder in franchise history with at least 25 home runs and the first since 2018.

Kikuchi walked Schanuel with one out before Drury singled. But Kikuchi struck out the next two batters.

The Astros had just one hit when Diaz got to base 1 early in the fourth inning on Eric Wagaman's third error of the game. A single by Peña moved him to third base and the Astros tied the game when he scored on a single by Caratini.

José Suarez allowed three hits and one run with five strikeouts in five innings in his second start this season after spending most of the year in the bullpen.

“He fought,” manager Ron Washington said. “He and Kukuchi went head-to-head and he hung in there and gave us what we needed.”

TRAINING ROOM

Angels: OF Mickey Moniak missed his fourth consecutive game due to a left hand contusion after being hit by a pitch on Sunday.

Next

Houston's RHP Justin Verlander (4-6, 5.20 ERA) will face LHP Tyler Anderson (10-13, 3.60) when the series resumes Friday night.

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AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB