Carlos Correa nearly hits for cycle in 13-3 win over the Angels

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Astros unload on Halos

Los Angeles Angels’ slugger Albert Pujols played hero for the home team in yesterday’s win after clubbing a pair of home runs, but rookie shortstop Carlos Correa would steal the spotlight tonight for the visiting Houston Astros.

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Correa entered his 15th big league game with high expectations after hitting the ground running since his Major League debut earlier in the month. The 20-year-old future All-Star crushed a three-run shot off veteran southpaw C.J. Wilson during the top of the second, driving in both Luis Valbuena and Hank Conger to even out Houston’s lead to 4-0.

He finished the game 3-for-6 with four RBI, failing to record his first big league cycle after only needing the three bagger to complete it.

Aside from Carlos, third baseman Luis Valbuena swung a hot bat and was a key contributor in the batter’s box with a pair of home runs. The former Cub continued to add to his career-highs in home runs by swatting No. 18 and 19.

He launched a solo bomb during the top of the fourth inning, extending the lead to 5-0 and Houston didn’t stop there. Evan Gattis – who recorded an RBI double in the first inning – drove in the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Kole Calhoun.

The Angels were finally able to get themselves on the board during the home half of the fourth on a two-run RBI knock by Efren Navarro which made it 7-2 still in favor of the Astros. Wilson would be pulled shortly after giving up the big fly to Valbuena to begin the inning and would be replaced by Cam Bedrosian.

I’m sure Wilson (5-6, 3.92 ERA) would have hit the reset button halfway through tonight’s outing as he surrendered seven earned runs on eight hits including two home runs, two walks, and three strikeouts in just 3 1/3 frames.

Collin McHugh (8-3, 4.80 ERA), on the other hand, had himself a fantastic night on the mound against this dangerous lineup. In eight innings of work, McHugh held the Angels to just two earned runs behind nine hits with one walk and six whiffs to put his team back into the win column once again.

From here on out, it was all Houston who continued to flex their muscles, eating up reliever after reliever. Valbuena hit his second home run of the game off Bedrosian in the fifth inning – a two-run shot that brought Chris Carter home along with him to make it 9-2.

Conger added a bit of insurance to this already large lead with an RBI single of his own to center fielder Daniel Robertson, sending Carter around to score for the second time, making it 12-2. Houston plated their final run on a force out by Correa who managed to push Domingo Santana across to score.

Santana had himself a two-run double in the sixth inning which made it 11-2 after Jose Altuve and Colby Rasmus reached home plate safely.

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