Peña homers with parents watching, Astros thump Angels 13-6

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jeremy Peña hit his first major league home run while his parents were being interviewed on the broadcast, Kyle Tucker went deep twice and the Houston Astros pounded the Los Angeles Angels 13-6 on Friday night.

Houston homered six times in total, with Jose Altuve, Aledmys Díaz and Alex Bregman also connecting. It’s the 16th time Houston has had at least six homers in a game, and five of those have come since 2019. The Astros had 14 hits.

Jared Walsh had three hits and drove in two for the Angels.

Peña, Houston’s rookie replacement at shortstop after Carlos Correa signed with Minnesota, got his first big league hit with a single in the second inning. He then led off the seventh with a drive to left-center while his mom and dad were being interviewed in the stands by Apple TV+.

“I’m happy, happy now,” Geronimo Peña said.

The homer sparked an eight-run inning that also included a three-run shot by Tucker and extended Houston’s lead to 12-2. Tucker added a solo shot in the ninth.

Rafael Montero (1-0) was the winning pitcher while Oliver Ortega (0-1) took the loss.

Altuve went deep to left off Reid Detmers on the fifth pitch of the game. It was the 22nd career leadoff homer for the Astros second baseman.

The Angels answered with two runs in bottom of the first. Reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani led off with his first hit of the season, a bloop single to center, advanced to second on Anthony Rendon’s hit and scored on Walsh’s single. Rendon later scored on a passed ball.

Houston tied it at 2 in the fourth on Diaz’s solo shot to left. Bregman made it 4-2 when he led off the sixth by going deep to left-center for his second homer in two nights.

FOR STARTERS

Both starting pitchers went four innings and allowed two runs. Houston’s Jake Odorizzi struck out two while Detmers bounced back from Altuve’s leadoff homer to strike out three.

HEY, SIRI

With Apple TV+ showing the game, Jose Siri made a diving catch in center to rob Brandon Marsh of a hit and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth.

Siri singled to lead off the fifht, stole second and advanced to third on Martín Maldonado’s fly ball to left.

Siri appeared as if he was going to remain at third after Altuve’s grounder, but he broke for home as soon as Rendon threw to first. Walsh might have had a chance to get Siri out with a good throw, but it was a high toss.

According to MLB Statcast, Siri was averaging 31.2 feet per second on the sprint home. Anything above 30 is considered elite speed.

WEB GEMS

The Angels were on the verge of taking a 3-1 lead in the first after Marsh’s single to left, but Michael Brantley made a great throw that took one bounce before catcher Maldonado tagged Walsh out at the plate.

Brantley has 57 outfield assists since 2011, ninth among active players.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: 1B Yuli Gurriel is on the paternity list after flying back to Houston on Thursday night. Manager Dusty Baker said he expects Gurriel to rejoin the team before Tuesday’s game at Arizona. IF Joe Perez was recalled from the taxi squad to fill Gurriel’s roster spot.

Angels: OF Justin Upton was released. He was designated for assignment on April 2. The four-time All-Star is owed $19.5 million this season by the Angels after they couldn’t agree on a trade.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander makes his first regular-season start since July 2020. The two-time Cy Young Award winner did not pitch last season after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in September of 2020.

Angels: RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-1, 9.00 ERA in 2021 with Mets) makes his Halos debut. He missed the majority of last season and all of 2020 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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