HOUSTON — The encouraging start to Kyle Hendricks’ season came to a quick end with one rough inning.
Hendricks gave up five runs in the second inning of the Angels’ 7-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon.
The loss also ended the Angels’ season-opening streak of four straight series wins, as they lost two of three.
The Angels (9-6) kept mashing homers, but the blasts hit by Taylor Ward, Nolan Schanuel and Jorge Soler were all solos, and that was not enough to overcome the damage done against Hendricks.
After Ward and Schanuel put the Angels up 2-0, Hendricks allowed four the first five hitters to reach in the bottom of the inning, tying the score.
He was an out away from escaping without further damage, but he left an 87.7 mph fastball up in the zone and Isaac Paredes knocked it into the Crawford Boxes beyond the left field fence.
That inning spoiled what has otherwise been a strong start to the season for Hendricks. He allowed more runs on the Paredes homer (three) than he has allowed the 14 innings he’s pitched this season (two).
Overall, Hendricks has a 4.20 ERA through three starts.
At the plate, the Angels have now hit 28 homers in their last 10 games, which is a franchise record.
Their 30 homers this season leads the major leagues.
Ward has hit five homers in his last five games.
More to come on this story.
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