Morton leaves Astros’ 6-2 win over Angels due to shoulder
By JOSHUA KOCH
HOUSTON (AP) _ Charlie Morton left Houston’s 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday after one inning because of discomfort in his pitching shoulder, a potential problem for the World Series champions as they close in consecutive AL West titles.
The 34-year-old right-hander did not pitch for the Astros from Aug. 28 until Sept. 8 because of right shoulder discomfort. He won his first two starts following his stint on the disabled list, allowing four runs in 11 innings.
Morton threw 24 pitches in the first. He gave up a double to Justin Upton, who scored from second on a wild pitch in the dirt that bounced off the glove of catcher Martin Maldonado, who initially had trouble finding the ball.
AL West-leading Houston started the day 31/2 games ahead of second-place Oakland.
Yuli Gurriel hit a two-run homer, giving him three homers and 10 RBIs in the three-game series, and Evan Gattis had three hits and two RBIs.
Framber Valdez (4-1) followed Morton and struck out a career-high nine in six innings, allowing one run and three hits. He had been scheduled to start Wednesday at Toronto.
Tyler Skaggs (8-9) gave up four runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings, the fourth straight start he failed to last four innings. Skaggs has given up 22 runs in that span.
Gurriel hit a two-run homer in the first, extending his hitting streak to nine games, and Gattis added an RBI single for a 3-1 lead.
Gattis added an RBI single in the fifth off Jim Johnson, and Angels rookie Jose Briceno homered in the sixth. Josh Reddick drew a bases-loaded, four-pitch walk from Williams Jerez in the seventh.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: OF Mike Trout was given the day off. … INF Jose Fernandez is day to day after being hit by a pitch on the right hand in the first inning of Saturday’s game. Scioscia said the hand is sore.
Astros: OF George Springer was given the day off. … INF Carlos Correa was held out of the lineup for the fourth straight game.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Felix Pena (3-5, 4.20 ERA) will open a series Monday at Texas.
Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (11-11, 3.71 ERA) starts Monday’s series opener at Toronto. He has given up 12 runs in his last three starts and is seeking his first win since Sept. 3.
Beltre cheered in possible Texas finale, 6-1 win vs Mariners
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ Adrian Beltre was given a standing ovation when he was removed from what could be his last home game for Texas, just before the Rangers rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Sunday.
The 39-year-old, playing his 21st major league season, struck out twice and is hitting .275 with 14 homers and 61 RBIs. The four-time All-Star, the active hits leader with 3,162, went to third base just after the game became official _ his 2,758 appearances at third are second only to Brooks Robinson’s 2,870. Rougned Odor ran out of the dugout and hugged Beltre, entering the game as Jurickson Profar moved from second base to third.
Teammates hugged Beltre as the crowd of 31,269 rose to its feet. He acknowledged the cheers with a tip and wave of his cap, then descended into the dugout to more hugs.
Beltre is in his eighth season in Texas after time with Seattle, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston, and he has not said whether he wants to return for next season. The Rangers finish their season on the road after going 34-47 at home, the second-most home losses since the team moved to Texas, behind 33-48 in 2014.
While Beltre was signing autographs before the game, some fans held up signs pleading with him to stay with the Rangers.
Seattle lost a day after it was eliminated from the postseason contention, extending the longest playoff drought among the four major U.S. pro sports to 17 years.
Guillermo Heredia’s double in the second put the Marinerse ahead, but the Rangers took a 4-1 lead in the sixth when Nomar Mazara chased starter Wade LeBlanc (8-5) with a two-run double, Robinson Chirinos hit an RBI single off Nick Vincent and Carlos Tocci had a sacrifice fly against James Pazos. Joey Gallo added his 39th homer, a two-run drive in the eighth against Ryan Cook.
Jeffrey Springs (1-1), the second of five Texas pitchers, allowed two hits in two scoreless innings.
Seattle finished its road schedule 44-37, its second-most wins away from home since 2002, behind only 46-35 four years ago.
WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?
Texas drew 2,107,107 at home, an average of 26,014, its lowest home attendance since 1,945,677 in 2008.
REMEMBERING
Texas observed a moment of silence before the game in memory of Dr. B.J. Mycoskie, the Rangers’ medical director from 1972-85. He died Sunday at age 95.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: RHP Felix Hernandez (strained right hamstring) is slated to return Tuesday to make his first start since Sept. 8. “He has some problems with the leg,” manager Scott Servais said. “It is important just to go into the offseason with peace of mind.”
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP James Paxton (11-6, 3.83), sidelined by pneumonia since Sept. 7, starts Monday’s series opener against Oakland and LHP Brett Anderson (4-5, 3.96).
Rangers: RHP Adrian Sampson (0-2, 4.09) is scheduled to pitch Monday at the Los Angeles Angels and RHP Felix Pena (3-5, 4.20).