GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Dallas Keuchel got plenty of sleep, did extra cardio work and stayed constantly hydrated over the last few days to prepare for his start on a scorching afternoon.
After all that work, not even the majors’ most productive offense could keep Keuchel from a dominant victory for the Houston Astros.
Keuchel took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, and the Astros ended the Los Angeles Angels’ 10-game winning streak with a 6-1 victory Sunday.
Keuchel (11-9) faced the minimum 21 batters from the major league-leading Angels through seven innings on a rare 100-degree day at the Big A, overpowering a lineup that has scored a big league-best 728 runs.
“I did the necessary precautions during the week to get myself ready for a day like this,” Keuchel said. “I knew it was going to be hot, (so) I was just trying to take care of my body, and getting a bunch of rest and staying hydrated. That’s all you can do, and then hope to do your job well.”
The left-hander yielded three late hits, giving up David Freese’s RBI single in the eighth on his 114th and final pitch.
Mike Trout’s one-out single in the seventh was the first hit for the Angels, who fell one victory short of matching the longest winning streak in franchise history, set during the club’s fourth season in 1964. Los Angeles (93-56) is cruising toward its first AL West title since 2009.
The Angels scored 86 runs during their winning streak while running away with the division lead, but their hot run ended on a stifling day in Orange County.
“We’ve been swinging the bat great, and today we were having great at-bats,” Trout said. “But sometimes you’re going to run into a guy that’s throwing strikes and keeping us off-balance.”
Keuchel, who fell one out shy of a shutout at Anaheim in May, is a consummate ground-ball pitcher who has emerged as one of the AL’s best left-handers in his third big league season. Throwing strikes and forcing repeated groundouts, he retired the first 15 Angels before Chris Iannetta drew a full-count walk leading off the sixth.
“He’s a competitor,” Houston interim manager Tom Lawless said. “He’s not giving in. He can get behind in the count, but when his sinker is going … he can shut them down, changing speeds and moving the ball around.”
Gregorio Petit hit a three-run homer, Robbie Grossman added a two-run single and Jake Marisnick had three hits for the Astros, who have won nine of 13.
Hector Santiago (5-8) couldn’t get an out in the third inning of his first loss in 13 starts and three relief appearances since June 15.
Los Angeles lost for the first time since Sept. 4, also against Houston. The Angels’ magic number for clinching the AL West stayed at four with Oakland’s win at Seattle.
Santiago gave up five hits and five walks, including just the second homer of Petit’s 51-game career into the bullpen in left.
“It was actually a pretty good pitch,” Santiago said. “I went back and watched it, and it was down and in. But it was a 3-1 count, and I had to throw a fastball for a strike. He was probably cheating, and he got it.”
DROPPING IN
Lawless hated to see Keuchel’s no-hit bid end on Trout’s hit: “Just a broken-bat, lazy blooper that found the Bermuda Triangle out there,” he said.
ASTRONAUT WOLOWITZ
Actor Simon Helberg from CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” filmed a scene for an upcoming episode of television’s top-rated sitcom on the Angel Stadium field before the game. The joke involved a working model of the Mars Rover attempting to throw out the first pitch.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Brad Peacock has been scratched from Monday’s game against Cleveland with back soreness.
Angels: Josh Hamilton still hasn’t played since Sept. 4, but the cleanup hitter feels improvement in his injured shoulder.
UP NEXT:
Astros: Collin McHugh (9-9, 2.79) will move up one day to start in Peacock’s place at home.
Angels: Matt Shoemaker (15-4, 3.16) looks to extend his franchise rookie record for victories.
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