Fiers struggles in shortest outing of season

ANAHEIM — Matt Shoemaker was dominant again Friday night, throwing a career-high 8 1/3 innings and riding Albert Pujols’ 570th career homer, as he helped give the Angels a 7-2 win over the Astros at Angel Stadium, halting Houston’s three-game win streak.

Shoemaker worked a season-high in innings for the second consecutive start while striking out 11 and becoming the ninth Angels pitcher (and first since Jered Weaver in 2010) to post back-to-back games with 10 or more strikeouts.

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The Angels hopped on Astros right-hander Mike Fiers, scoring seven runs off him before chasing him after just 3 2/3 innings. It was the most runs Fiers had allowed all season, and also marked his shortest outing in 2016.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDPujols Power: The Angels offense exploded for a season-high six runs in the third inning off of Fiers, opening up the scoring on a Kole Calhoun RBI single, followed by a bases-clearing three-run double by Mike Trout. The frame was highlighted by a two-run blast from Pujols, his 10th of the season and 570th of his career. The shot moved him past Rafael Palmeiro for 12th on the all-time home …

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