HOUSTON (AP) \u2014 Ethan Pecko struck out four in his major-league debut, five Houston relievers pitched shutout ball for five-plus innings and Christian V\u00e1zquez homered as the Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Pecko, a 2023 sixth-round selection by Houston, was ranked ninth in the Astros\u2019 system by MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed three hits, two runs and two walks in 3 2\/3 innings. He was the 17th starter used by the Astros this season, which tied a franchise record set in 1965.<\/p>\n
V\u00e1zquez\u2019s solo homer, his seventh of the year, put the Astros ahead in the third inning.<\/p>\n
Nick Allen pinch-hit for Jeremy Pe\u00f1a after Pe\u00f1a was hit by a 100-mph sinker on his hand in the first. The Astros said he had a right hand contusion.<\/p>\n
In the same inning, manager Joe Espada was ejected after arguing a hit-by-pitch call.<\/p>\n
Denzer Guzman put the Angels ahead in the fourth with what initially appeared to be a three-run homer. But, the call was changed to a two-run double due to fan interference<\/a>.<\/p>\n Houston\u2019s Jose Altuve tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning, and Cam Smith put the Astros ahead with a sacrifice fly that scored Isaac Paredes.<\/p>\n Bennett Sousa (1-1) earned the win in relief and Josh Hader earned his 18th save.<\/p>\n Walbert Ure\u00f1a (8-9) worked five innings for the Angels, allowing three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Astros RHP Peter Lambert (8-6, 3.11 ERA) faces Angels RHP Grayson Rodriguez (3-5, 7.17) in the series finale on Thursday.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n