Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels lines out in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Angels’ David Fletcher, left, beats Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel, right, to the bag on an RBI infield hit in the top of the third inning on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
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Houston Astros third baseman Jack Mayfield, right, is upended by the Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons, left, who stole third base in the top of the third inning on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Josh Reddick #22 of the Houston Astros reaches but is unable to catch a home run off the bat of Justin Upton of the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros is hit by a pitch by Jacob Barnes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros is attended to by manager Dusty Baker #12 after getting hit by a pitch by Jacob Barnes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Houston Astros third baseman Jack Mayfield, left, can’t maintain control of the ball as the Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons, right, steals third base in the top of the third inning on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
The Houston Astros’ Kyle Tucker, right, is congratulated by Yuli Gurriel after hitting a home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval in the bottom of the second inning on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
The Houston Astros’ Yuli Gurriel celebrates after scoring on a hit by Josh Reddick in the bottom of the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Houston Astros third baseman Jack Mayfield, top, misses the tag as Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons, bottom, safely steals third base as umpire Cory Blaser, left, and Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) look on during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel, right, tags out Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, left, on a ground ball in the fifth inning Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval reacts after giving up a solo home run to the Houston Astros’ Kyle Tucker in the bottom of the second inning on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Houston Astros mascot Orbit tries to rouse the crowd of photo cutouts in the middle of the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Houston Astros designated hitter Michael Brantley (23) is safe at second on his double, scoring Yuli Gurriel, as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, left, throws the ball during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros is attended to by team staff after getting hit by a pitch by Jacob Barnes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros is attended to by manager Dusty Baker #12 after getting hit by a pitch by Jacob Barnes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels’ David Fletcher (22) singles, driving in Andrelton Simmons to score, during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros reacts after getting hit by a pitch by Jacob Barnes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros is hit by a pitch by Jacob Barnes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton (10) touches home plate after his home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Astros third baseman Jack Mayfield, right, is upended by the Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons, left, who stole third base in the top of the third inning on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros is attended to by manager Dusty Baker #12 after getting hit by a pitch by Jacob Barnes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros singles in the second inning second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 24: Jack Mayfield #9 of the Houston Astros throws out Anthony Bemboom of the Los Angeles Angels in the third inning at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
At his introductory press conference last October, Joe Maddon was greeted at Angel Stadium with a banner that read “Welcome Home.” Maddon was last an Angels coach in 2005, a season in which four of their pitchers – Bartolo Colon, John Lackey, Jarrod Washburn and Paul Byrd – averaged more than six innings a start.
That feels like a century ago. On a day when Albert Pujols ascended the record books, Anthony Rendon extended his hit streak, and Justin Upton broke out of a slump, Maddon was treated to the peculiar brand of misery that beset Brad Ausmus and Mike Scioscia before him.
Starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval allowed five runs in 2 ⅔ innings Monday in the Angels’ 11-4 loss to the Houston Astros. The bullpen kept Houston close until the sixth inning, before back-to-back doubles by Carlos Correa and Kyle Tucker drove in four runs to break the game open.
It wasn’t the homecoming Maddon signed up for, but it was a familiar story to these Angels.
The Angels (9-21) lost for the sixth time in their last seven games. They reached the halfway point of the 2020 regular season with the worst 30-game record in franchise history.
“It’s been tough, frustrating,” Pujols said. “We know what kind of ballclub we have here. To have the record we show right now, I think everybody’s disappointed, including the players. The last thing you want to do over the last 30 games is take it for granted. I think we’re going to fight and finish the last 30 strong.”
After using six pitchers over the first seven innings, Maddon put catcher Anthony Bemboom on the mound to pitch the eighth. With a scheduled doubleheader looming, the manager didn’t want to use his last pitcher, Felix Peña, to close out a seven-run loss.
Now, Maddon thinks he’ll have enough pitching to get through 14 innings Tuesday.
“I think we’ll have enough to cover, but I’m looking to win the games,” he said. “To win these games, we have to get deeper into the game with the starter.”
The loss spoiled the occasion of Pujols’ 2,087th career run batted in, which passed Alex Rodriguez on the all-time list. RBI became an official statistic in 1920. Babe Ruth, whose career began in 1914, drove in 2,214 runs in his career. Officially, however, Pujols is now second all-time to Hank Aaron and his 2,297 career RBIs.
The historic hit, a single to left field in the fifth inning, drove in Mike Trout to bring the Angels within 5-4. Rodriguez promptly wrote a public-facing message to Pujols on his Twitter account: “Congrats to my friend @PujolsFive on another amazing milestone! One of the best hitters ever and an incredible person.”
“Definitely it’s an honor,” Pujols said. “(Rodriguez) is a legend. The guy’s had an unbelievable career. For me, my job is to try to go out there and do the best I can to help this ballclub to win. I’m not here to chase records. Twenty years ago when I started, my rookie season, that wasn’t my goal. Obviously I thank God for this privilege, to accomplish what I’ve done in the game. It’s pretty special.”
The Astros put the game away in the sixth inning, when they sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs. Keynan Middleton walked Josh Reddick to begin the rally. Jacob Barnes walked Martin Maldonado and hit George Springer with a pitch to load the bases. Mike Mayers replaced Barnes and allowed Correa’s double, driving in all three runners.
It was one of four run-scoring hits the Astros collected with two strikes.
Sandoval (0-4) pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, then allowed a leadoff home run to Tucker in the second. Down 2-0 in the third, the Angels nearly turned an inning-ending double play on a Yuli Gurriel grounder.
Second baseman David Fletcher threw the ball to shortstop Andrelton Simmons at second base for the lead out. But Simmons’ return throw to first base was in the dirt, and neither Sandoval nor Pujols, the first baseman, were able to smother it.
“I didn’t notice how far off AP was playing,” Sandoval said. “It’s my responsibility to get over and cover first. I was frustrated with myself at that point.”
Given new life, the Astros rallied with two outs. Michael Brantley doubled in one run. Reddick singled in another. When Maldonado singled on Sandoval’s 64th pitch, Maddon had seen enough. The manager summoned Noe Ramirez from the bullpen.
Only two Angel pitchers got through the game without a run on their ledger: Ramirez and Bemboom.
Rendon’s second-inning single extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Fletcher went 3 for 5 from the leadoff spot. Upton, who had one hit in his previous 37 at-bats entering the game, hit a solo home run in the fourth inning against Astros starter Framber Valdez (3-2).
Valdez tossed seven innings and allowed four runs while striking out seven batters. The 26-year-old lefty struck out Trout twice on curveballs.
“That kid Valdez has that good of a breaking ball,” Maddon said. “It’s no accident. You’re not going to see a good hitter take called thirds like that and not be in position to hit. He’s got a slider that never stops hitting. Valdez has a very bright future.”
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