José Suarez, Luis Rengifo lift Angels to victory over Astros

HOUSTON — So far September is going pretty well for a couple players trying to carve out spots on the 2022 Angels.

Starter José Suarez gave up just one run and Luis Rengifo hit a two-run homer in the Angels’ 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Suarez, 23, has allowed two runs in 14-2/3 innings in his this starts this month, including the Angels’ only complete game of the season.

Rengifo, 24, has a pair of homers this week, and six hits in 18 at-bats since he came back from Triple-A at the start of the month.

Both players had struggled enough in the majors during sporadic opportunities prior to this season for the shine to have worn off their former status as prospects.

This month, though, there is reason for optimism surrounding both of them.

Suarez gave up one run in 5-2/3 innings on Saturday, cutting his ERA to 3.59 this season. He gave up one run in a complete game last weekend against the last-place Texas Rangers, so the Astros certainly represented a tougher challenge.

“He followed up really well,” Manager Joe Maddon said. “Against a tough team, in a ballpark that’s conducive for hitting.”

Maddon said that Suarez’s curve ball has been a difference-maker.

“I think his curve ball is the pitch that has permitted the last outing and this one,” Maddon said. “Before that we saw fastball and changeup and occasional curve. Now you’re seeing a pertinent curve ball and the hitter has a lot more to think about.”

Suarez threw 25 curves out of his career-high 102 pitches on Saturday, which is about in line with his percentage for the season.

“I feel like teams have noticed that I’ve been using my changeup a lot,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “I’ve been using my curve ball more to keep them off balance.”

In this game Suarez got off to a strong start, facing the minimum through the first three innings.

In the fourth, though, the Astros pushed him. Suarez lost a nine-pitch battle with José Siri, who singled into right for the Astros first hit of the game. He then walked Alex Bregman at the end of a nine-pitch duel, before giving up a first-pitch single to Yordan Alvarez.

Just like that, the Astros had the bases loaded with one out and Suarez had already thrown 27 pitches in the inning.

Suarez, however, needed just three more pitches to retire Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correa on a pair of groundouts. A run scored, but major damage was avoided.

“He gets upset with himself once in a while, but he doesn’t start going fast,” Maddon said. “He get upset with himself and he’s able to file it and get the next out. That’s what I’m seeing. That’s what he’s learning how to do. Good pitchers, good starters, do that.”

And after that marathon inning, Suarez responded with a 13-pitch fifth inning. He then struck out Siri and Bregman to start the sixth, before giving up a double to Alvarez, ending his night.

Relievers Mike Mayers, Steve Cishek and Raisel Iglesias then preserved the victory for Suarez, although Iglesias made it too exciting in the ninth. He gave up a run and the Astros had runners at second and third when he finally recorded the third out.

The Angels had a cushion after Rengifo doubled the lead with a two-run homer in the third inning.

Rengifo started at shortstop for the fifth time in the six games he’s played since returning from Triple-A on Sept. 1.

At the plate, Rengifo has continued to show encouraging signs after he posted a .915 OPS in the 23 games he played at Salt Lake since the Angels’ sent him back to Triple-A in early August.

Asked what parts of his game feel better, Rengifo said: “Everything. I’m playing better. My hands are better. I have more confidence in the box. I feel more comfortable playing the game.”

Maddon said that Rengifo has improved his physical conditioning, which has helped him in the field and at the plate.

“The body is alive,” Maddon said. “Those plays he’s making, coming in on the ball. That backhand play at third. I can’t tell you he’d have made that play last year. He’s picking it cleanly and making accurate throws. He’s only made one mistake since he’s been here. Just a more complete game, with a quicker body. That’s what I’m seeing.”