(SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels will conclude a four-game series at the Big A Sunday.
Scott Feldman hits the hill for the 'Stros Sunday looking to dial back his earned run average, while Garrett Richards hopes to keep his ERA down against the AL West leaders.
Feldman is a giant on the mound, standing at 6-foot-7. But the righty hasn't intimidated anyone with his size this season. Feldman enters the contest with a 2-3 record and a 5.50 ERA, having also struck out just 18 batters in six starts.
His last outing was a rough one. Feldman lasted only three innings on Tuesday against Texas after surrendering nine hits and six runs in the 7-1 loss. Feldman's ERA inflated from 4.31 to 5.50 after that start. In 26 appearances against the Angels in his career, Feldman is 6-8 with a 4.70 ERA and a .291 batting average against.
The 27-year-old Richards is off to a hot start this season and is picking up where he left off in 2014. He is 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four starts, and is coming off a strong outing Tuesday against Seattle, in which he allowed only one run and five hits through seven innings of work.
In 10 career games versus Houston (seven starts), Richards is 4-2 with a 3.80 ERA. His first start of the 2015 campaign was against the Astros, who handed the righty his only loss so far after he surrendered four runs (three earned) in five innings on the mound.
Houston did a hefty amount of damage against Los Angeles early on in Saturday's 6-5 win.
Jose Altuve sent a solo homer to left field in the first inning to give the 'Stros the lead, and in the second and third innings the team piled on five more runs to take a 6-2 advantage.
Houston starter Dallas Keuchel, who led the majors in ERA entering the contest (0.80), surrendered four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts. He was able to pick up the win to remain perfect on the season (4-0) despite allowing the hosts to battle back.
"Our offense is the story of the game," Keuchel said. "The offense picked me up."
Carlos Perez hit an RBI double in the fourth inning, and Mike Trout homered in the fifth to cut the lead to 6-4. Kole Calhoun's RBI double in the ninth put the Angels down by one run, but Chad Qualls was able to shut the door in the home half of the ninth.
Colby Rasmus and Chris Carter each drove in two runs for the Astros, while Jake Marisnick had a team-high two hits in the win.
Matt Shoemaker was hit with the loss for the Angels after giving up six runs on six hits in just three innings of work.
Houston took a 3-2 advantage on the season over the Angels.