Angels rout Astros 18-3; Neto drives seven RBIs

Zach Neto delivered a career night, going 5-for-6 with his 21st homer and a career-high seven RBIs as the Angels routed the Astros 18-3, boosting their run total to a season high and marking Neto’s five-hit, seven-RBI performance. The Angels, who piled up 18 hits, also benefited from a rested Grayson Rodriguez, who worked seven innings and allowed only unearned runs while striking out six. Neto’s seven RBIs tied the Angels’ single-game record for a shortstop, highlighting a perennial standout night for a lineup that featured multi-hit efforts from Moisés Ballesteros, Vaughn Grissom, and others; the team resembled its best offensive form in years. The game featured a scary moment when Angels outfielder Wade Meckler was hit in the head by a 90-mph pitch, though he later exited the game, and Nolan Schanuel left with right-side soreness. The win gave Los Angeles its first road series victory in nearly three months, while Houston fell to 64-64 and surrendered ground in the AL West as Texas won elsewhere. The Angels improved to 51-77, as Peter Lambert had his worst start of the season for Houston, and Grayson Rodriguez earned the win, capping a dominant performance after an imperfect first inning.