EditorsNote: changes to "13th" in seventh graf; adds to last graf
Michael Brantley hit the 100th home run of his career, and Gerrit Cole pitched seven strong innings as the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Angels 11-2 Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Houston's George Springer added a three-run homer.
Dustin Garneau homered for the Angels, who lost for the first time in six games since the All-Star break. Los Angeles was without All-Star Mike Trout for the third consecutive game because of a right calf strain.
Cole (10-5) allowed one run on seven hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. The right-hander fanned the last five batters he faced.
Los Angeles right-hander Felix Pena (7-3), who pitched the final seven innings Friday of a combined no-hitter against Seattle on a night when the Angels honored late teammate Tyler Skaggs, struggled from the beginning.
Pena went 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out five.
With one out in the first, the Astros' Jose Altuve singled and scored on Alex Bregman's double to left. Brantley then hit his milestone two-run shot to right, his 13th home run of the season, to make it 3-0.
Houston added two more runs in the second. Jake Marisnick singled with one out and stole second. After a walk to Springer, Altuve hit a two-run double to left.
The Astros made it 6-0 in the third. Yuli Gurriel led off with a double to left, advanced to third on Josh Reddick's flyout to right and scored on a wild pitch by Pena.
Houston pulled away by scoring five runs in the fifth. Brantley led off and was hit by a pitch. Two outs later, Robinson Chirinos lined a single to center to end Pena's night.
Right-hander Luke Bard, recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the day, didn't fare much better. Tyler White singled to right to score Brantley, and then Marisnick hit a run-scoring double to left to make it 8-0. Springer followed with a three-run shot to center, his 21st.
Garneau homered to left with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, his first of the year. Garneau also had a run-scoring double in the ninth.
Angels manager Brad Ausmus was suspended for the game after reliever Noe Ramirez hit Marisnick with a pitch Tuesday, apparently in retaliation for a home-plate collision with Los Angeles catcher Jonathan Lucroy on July 7. Ramirez appealed his punishment.
--Field Level Media
