 allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. He continued his string of solid outings, allowing two runs or fewer for the sixth time in his last seven starts. Houston has won 10 straight against the Angels. It tacked on a run in the third when Jered Weaver (8-8) hit Preston Tucker with the bases loaded, scoring George Springer. Springer knocked an RBI single in the fourth. Ji-Man Choi had a solo home run to the upper deck in right field to lead off the fifth, and Andrelton Simmons hit an RBI single in the sixth for the Angels. Weaver was roughed up for six runs on seven hits in four innings. The right-hander has struggled against Houston this season, allowing 16 runs in 15 1/3 innings. TRAINER'S ROOMAstros: C Jason Castro was out of the lineup Saturday after being hit on the back of his right hand on a foul tip in the ninth inning Friday. ''This morning he felt it was okay,'' manager A. J. Hinch said. ''He took a few swings and felt a little bit of soreness, so I decided to scratch him.'' ROSTER MOVESAngels: Los Angeles called up Carlos Perez from Triple-A Salt Lake. Perez started at catcher and went 0 for 3. The Angels optioned C Juan Graterol to Salt Lake. Astros: 3B Matt Duffy was claimed off waivers by Texas on Saturday. Duffy was designated for assignment July 16. ... Houston announced the signing of 22-year-old Cuban SS Anibal Sierra on Saturday. UP NEXTAngels: RHP Tim Lincecum (2-3) will make his seventh start of the season Sunday and is looking for his second straight win. Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (6-4) will make his 18th start of the season and look to bounce back from two straight starts of four innings or less, including Monday's outing in Oakland where he was tagged for six runs in 3 2/3 innings.
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Time: 07:10 P.M. EST Venue: Minute Maid Park
HOUSTON -- Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker produced another exceptional start on Friday night and despite a 2-1 loss, he set the tone needed to keep the Angels rolling out of the All-Star Game break. Shoemaker delivered his fifth consecutive quality start against the Astros (52-44) yet the Angels fell to 1-5 in those contests. But by allowing just two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, Shoemaker set the stage for the Angels (43-53) to keep pitching effectively in support of an offense that had been cruising before arriving at Minute Maid Park." Shoe's thrown the ball well; that's really the most important thing right now," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Shoemaker, who tossed his first career shutout in his previous appearance." He just has to go out there and keep grinding it out there, and hopefully he'll get the run support that is going to turn them into a win." The Angels scored 40 runs during their six-game winning streak before being shut down by right-hander Lance McCullers in the series opener. Right-hander Jered Weaver (8-7, 5.02 ERA) will on Saturday make his 12th career appearance against the Astros, against whom he is 5-5 with a 3.77 ERA. In two starts against Houston this season, he has allowed 10 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings, going 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA. Weaver has won each of his last two starts, allowing just two earned runs over 13 innings during those appearances. He defeated the White Sox in his previous start, allowing one run on six hits and one walk with one strikeout over seven innings. Right-hander Collin McHugh (6-6, 4.25 ERA) will make his 20th start of the season for the Astros and his third against the Angels. McHugh has yet to record a decision against the Angels in 2016 despite pitching effectively over two starts, allowing four runs on 11 hits and four walks with nine strikeouts in 13 innings. McHugh is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA in nine career starts against the Angels. He fanned 10 batters over six scoreless innings in his previous outing, an 8-1 win over the Mariners in Seattle. It marked his second double-digit strikeout performance on the season. McHugh has allowed three earned runs or less in six consecutive starts and nine of his last 11, posting a 2.41 ERA over the six-start stretch with Houston going 5-1. Perhaps indicative of how the breaks have fallen for the Astros in their season series with the Angels, designated hitter Preston Tucker delivered a triple in the fifth inning in his first game back with Houston since being optioned to Triple A Fresno on May 15. Tucker scored the first run of the game against Shoemaker, giving the Astros a lead they didn't relinquish en route to a ninth consecutive win over the Angels." That's what I felt like I got brought back up here to do," Tucker said. "I know (Shoemaker) tonight was tough so I was doing everything I could to get on base or help us out."
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