HOUSTON -- C.J. Wilson pitched eight innings of one-run ball, Josh Hamilton walked three times for the first time in five years and the Angels' offense continued to add on in a 9-1 victory over the Astros at Minute Maid Park on Monday, capping a series that saw them take three of four from their division rivals.Feel better?Outside panic had already begun after the first series of the season, when the Angels were swept at home by a Mariners team that outscored them by 18 runs -- and will now host them at Safeco Field on Tuesday and Wednesday. But the Angels scored 11 runs on Friday, got a dominant outing from Tyler Skaggs on Saturday and were led by Wilson on Monday, who took the mound one day after Jered Weaver allowed a career-high-tying four home runs in a loss. 
The Angels (3-4) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning off promising 23-year-old right-hander Jarred Cosart, getting an RBI groundout by Raul Ibanez and a two-run single from Howie Kendrick. Kole Calhoun led off the fifth with his second homer of the season, Chris Iannetta hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth and the Angels tacked on three more runs in the seventh off Brad Peacock, thanks to a two-run single by Ibanez and an RBI single from Kendrick.Wilson, coming off getting charged with six runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Mariners last Tuesday, gave up only four hits, walked one and struck out seven while needing 120 pitches to record 24 outs. The 33-year-old left-hander didn't allow a run until Astros catcher Carlos Corporan took him deep in the eighth -- four outs away from his second career shutout -- and he issued his first walk immediately thereafter.Hamilton, named co-American League Player of the Week, along with Twins first baseman Chris Colabello, worked walks in each of his first two plate appearances and was intentionally walked with first base open his fourth time up. It was the first time since May 13, 2009, in Seattle that Hamilton had walked three times in a game, and only the fourth time in his career. He added an RBI single in the ninth to make it 9-1.Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
The Angels (3-4) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning off promising 23-year-old right-hander Jarred Cosart, getting an RBI groundout by Raul Ibanez and a two-run single from Howie Kendrick. Kole Calhoun led off the fifth with his second homer of the season, Chris Iannetta hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth and the Angels tacked on three more runs in the seventh off Brad Peacock, thanks to a two-run single by Ibanez and an RBI single from Kendrick.Wilson, coming off getting charged with six runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Mariners last Tuesday, gave up only four hits, walked one and struck out seven while needing 120 pitches to record 24 outs. The 33-year-old left-hander didn't allow a run until Astros catcher Carlos Corporan took him deep in the eighth -- four outs away from his second career shutout -- and he issued his first walk immediately thereafter.Hamilton, named co-American League Player of the Week, along with Twins first baseman Chris Colabello, worked walks in each of his first two plate appearances and was intentionally walked with first base open his fourth time up. It was the first time since May 13, 2009, in Seattle that Hamilton had walked three times in a game, and only the fourth time in his career. He added an RBI single in the ninth to make it 9-1.Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
