Feldman makes strides in start vs. Angels

ANAHEIM -- Sometimes the balls that are hit the weakest wind up doing the most damage. At least, that was the case Sunday afternoon for Astros starter Scott Feldman.

Feldman, looking to rebound from a tough start against the Rangers, held the Angels to three runs and six hits in seven strong innings. But an infield hit in the fifth off the bat of Chris Iannetta and a subsequent throwing error paved the way for the Angels' 3-1 win over the Astros.

With the bases loaded and one out in a scoreless game, Iannetta hit a dribbler towards the left side of the infield. Feldman sprinted off the mound and tried to make a quick throw home for the force out, only to throw wide. Two runs scored, and the Angels added another in the inning to take a 3-0 lead.

"Tough one there," Feldman said. "I tried to flip it and it cost us the game, pretty much. They score three that inning, and [Garrett] Richards was throwing the ball great. It's pretty much game right there."

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said trying to get the runner at the plate, especially considering the way Richards was pitching, was the right play.

"Obviously, the error hurt us and allowed a lot more damage to happen," he said. "They got in position to get a sac fly. The three runs weren't enough to come back from. We didn't hang our head, came back and made a game of it."

Feldman (2-4) was otherwise terrific. He sent down 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and seven of the final eight batters he faced and allowed only two hits outside of the fifth inning.

"He threw the ball very well," Hinch said. "The velocity was good today and he showed a lot of conviction in the strike zone and got some swings and misses on multiple pitches. A good start, but unfortunately not good enough."

Feldman wasn't in the mood for silver linings.

"We're trying to win around here," he said. "I guess if you try to pick out a couple of positives, I did better than last time, but at the end of the day I got an "L" next to my name."