Angels defeat Astros in walk-off fashion

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Andrelton Simmons’ single in the ninth inning Saturday night had more height than length, but it was enough to give the Los Angeles Angels a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros at Angel StadiumKole Calhoun drew a leadoff walk against Houston’s Chris Devenski (2-2) and went to third on Albert Pujols’ single down the left-field line. Simmons came up against a drawn-in infield and hammered a high hopper to shortstop Carlos Correa, whose throw to the plate was too late to catch Calhoun and prevent the walk-off run.The Angels only had five baserunners through eight innings, but stayed close with a tight defense and a stout pitching effort by JC Ramirez and three relievers.Ramirez allowed eight hits and two walks in his six innings but only a first-inning run as the Astros stranded seven. He was supported by his infield defense, which turned three double plays.Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. didn’t have his typical high-strikeout night with four in seven innings, but allowed only an unearned run, two hits and two walks in seven innings.The Angels finally got another hit, a one-out eighth-inning double by Martin Maldonado off the base of the right-field fence, but reliever Will Harris got Ben Revere to ground out and struck out Yunel Escobar to end the threat.Blake Parker, David Hernandez and Bud Norris (1-1) each worked a scoreless inning of relief for the Angels, who snapped a three-game losing streak.The Astros got consecutive two-out doubles by Correa and Carlos Beltran to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.The Angels tied it in the second. Luis Valbuena singled, went to second on a groundout, to third on a Brian McCann passed ball and scored on a groundout to shortstop by Cameron Maybin.The Astros had two runners on in the second, fourth and fifth but were unable to push a run across. The Angels turned inning-ending double plays in the second and fifth.The Angels were without Mike Trout, who was in the announced lineup but scratched. He sat out Thursday’s game with tightness in his left hamstring and it flared on him during pregame.NOTES: The Angels acquired RHP Damien Magnifico from Baltimore in exchange for RHP Jordan Kipper and optioned him to Triple-A Salt Lake City. RHP Jose Valdes was also designated for assignment. … Angels 1B C.J. Cron, who went on the disabled list with a foot injury April 29, took grounders and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Salt Lake on Sunday. … Angels 2B Danny Espinosa was out of the starting lineup. He’s in a 0-for-25 slump and has two hits in his last 45 at-bats. … The Astros’ 20-10 start tied the franchise record for best record after 30 games. They dropped to 16-6 against the AL West with Saturday’s defeat. … The Astros (13) and Angels (12) rank first and second in come-from-behind wins this season.