Houston would score three runs in the top half of the ninth inning to take a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in the first of a four-game series in California. 

The Los Angeles Angels got on the board quickly in this ball game behind a Mike Trout home run -- his seventh of the season -- in the top half of the first.

Hector Santiago pitched a solid 6.1 innings, giving up just one hit, walking four, and striking out five batters while not allowing a single run. For the Astros' starter, Collin McHugh, he gave up two earned runs in 7.1 innings, striking out an impressive seven Angels. 

However, Santiago did something that not a whole lot of pitchers normally do. He balked two batters before the fourth inning. Jonathan Villar reached base in the third behind a Johnny Giavotella throwing error. With Jose Altuve at the plate, he did not step off the mound completely and gave a free base to Villar. In the fourth inning, Santiago would do essentially the same thing again, which is rather unheard of at this level. Luckily for the Angels starter, neither balk would cost his side a run. 

The first pitch after McHugh was pulled resulted in a run for the Angels as Kole Calhoun ripped one to left field bringing home Giavotella from third base. Then there would be more bad luck for Mike Scioscia's ball club. Albert Pujols turned on a very nice pitch but as Chris Iannetta was running from second, the ball would hit him and the inning would end. If that ball would have found its way through, that hit probably would have resulted in two more runs which would have been vital to the outcome of the game. 

Huston Street has not been pitching very well lately as he blew his second consecutive save attempt. The Angels closer allowed the first two hitters on base and after getting Jason Carter to fly out to Mike Trout, Jake Marisnick singled to Collin Cowgill to cut the lead in half. Cowgill could have had a play at the plate had he not double clutched the ball which allowed Robbie Grossman to score easily. Then Preston Tucker got his first hit in the majors and drove in the tying run in the process. Houston would get one more run in the top of the ninth as the home team was unable to pull off a double play with the speedy Jose Altuve sprinting down the first base line, bringing home Marisnick. 

These two play tomorrow night in the second game of the series as Jered Weaver faces off against Rorberto Hernandez.