Neto (5 hits, 7 RBIs) paces Angels' hot bats in rout of Astros

HOUSTON -- The Angels’ offense has struggled throughout the year, but since the All-Star break in particular, the Halos have scored three or fewer runs in 20 out of 30 games. The bats woke up Thursday night.

Zach Neto had a career-high five hits and a career-high seven RBIs as the Angels’ offense exploded in an 18-3 rout of the Astros at Daikin Park to secure the Halos’ first road series win in nearly three months.

The Angels’ four through nine hitters combined to go 15-for-31 with 10 runs scored and 15 RBIs as the Halos scored a season high for runs in taking their first road series since May 26-28 at Detroit.

“It was nice,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “I think it was just quality at-bat after quality at-bat. Guys weren’t trying to do too much, and they still hit the ball out of the park. It was definitely good for everybody’s confidence. They’ve been working hard. Hitting guys have been working with them hard. It was nice to put it all together.”

Neto had RBI singles in the first and fourth before blasting a three-run homer to left-center in the fifth and a two-run double in the seventh.

“I think it was just the quality, using the middle of the field,” Suzuki said. “They’ve been working hard with him on a lot of different things. It’s nice to get the results when you’ve been putting in the work.”

Neto tied the Angels’ single-game record for most RBIs in a game played at shortstop set by Freddie Patek, who had seven RBIs on June 20, 1980, at Boston.

“It’s what happens when you’re seeing strikes and hitting them and not missing them,” Neto said. “It’s been a point of emphasis for me – ending at-bats when they need to be ended.”

After the Astros scored twice in the first on an error and wild pitch, the Angels tied it in the second on a Vaughn Grissom RBI single, and he scored on a Tyler Heineman sacrifice bunt. Josh Lowe capped the inning, scoring on Adam Frazier’s RBI fielder’s choice to first as Lowe was able to avoid Christian Vázquez’s tag off LaMonte Wade Jr.’s throw to the plate.

“Just good situational hitting all around,” Neto said. “It was a great day for us at the plate. We’re just going to keep going, hopefully.”

In addition to Neto’s RBI single in the fourth, Frazier had an RBI double, Moisés Ballesteros had a two-run single and Grissom capped the inning with a two-run double. Nolan Schanuel, who exited in the sixth with right side soreness, had an RBI fielder’s choice before Neto’s homer in the fifth. Denzer Guzman had a two-run homer in the ninth off position player Wade.

“It was so much fun, especially being on the other side of it,” Neto said of the rout. “We’ve been on [the losing end] a couple times this year, and it’s not that fun being on that side, so to finally be on the good side of it, it’s definitely a relief.”

In a scary moment, Wade Meckler exited in the fifth after being hit in the head by a 90.6 mph sinker from Bryan King. He was able to walk off the field after being checked by trainers.

Suzuki said Meckler had a head contusion and was being evaluated for a concussion.

The run support was plenty for Grayson Rodriguez, who settled down after working through trouble in the first inning to earn his first win since July 10.

“Settling in,” said Rodriguez, who grew up roughly 140 miles northeast of Houston in Nacogdoches, Texas. “I was a little nervous. I had a lot of family here tonight. It was really fun to be out there. After that rough first couple hitters, being able to get settled in was good.”

Rodriguez yielded two runs (both unearned) on five hits with six strikeouts in seven innings. He said the run support “was awesome to see.”

“It helps a ton,” he said. “Obviously, you don’t want to give up runs or homers, but with a lead like that, you just have to go out there and pump strikes. You have to be as efficient as possible to try to keep the bullpen out of it.”