|
 Freese pushed the Angels (78-74) in front with his blast to
left-center field off Astros right-hander Pat Neshek that brought
home Mike Trout and pinch-runner Collin Cowgill to erase the Astros'
4-3 lead.
Angels catcher Carlos Perez then added an RBI single to give them
some breathing room.
"I think it's nice when you hear the crowd because it kind of
reminds you to take a breath and relax," Freese said.
"I'm not saying that's why I got a hit. But when you hear the crowd,
it kind of hits you to understand the moment and pinpoint on your
objective, which is to put a good (at bat) together."
The Angels closed to within 1-1/2 games of the Astros (80-73) with
the victory.
The Astros had rallied themselves from a 3-0 deficit in the fifth
when George Springer drove in catcher Max Stassi with an RBI single.
Springer then slapped a two-run, two-out triple the opposite way in
the seventh off Angels right-hander Trevor Gott (3-2) to score Jake
Marisnick and Jose Altuve to give the Astros the lead they carried
into the eighth.
"Any time you don't come out on top, it's tough. But you see what
you have to do to win," said Springer, who finished 2-for-5 with
three RBIs.
"One pitch, one at-bat here or there and it's a different ball
game."
Angels closer Huston Street posted his 40th save despite allowing an
RBI single to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the ninth that
scored Altuve.
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Street responded by getting third baseman Jed Lowrie to ground out
and keep the Angels' playoff hopes afloat.
"Overall, we're playing a lot better baseball as we made the turn
into September than we did in August," Angels manager Mike Scioscia
said.
"We're doing a lot more things on the field that hopefully are going
to put the game on our terms and then give us a chance to hold
leads.
"When we've got a lead this series for the most part we've held it.
Springer got a big hit for them and we answered right back and that
was a good sign."
(Compiled by Greg Stutchbury)
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