Neto Drives Angels Surge
Jose Neto anchored a historic offensive outburst for the Los Angeles Angels, recording seven RBIs in a 18-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday, August 21, 2026. The away team dominated at Daikin Park before a crowd of 20,934, turning a tight first inning into an insurmountable lead.
Neto’s impact was immediate, as he singled to right field in the first inning to score Matt Meckler, giving the Angels an early 1-0 advantage. The Astros responded quickly, tying the game 1-1 on a fielder’s choice that scored Yordan Alvarez, but the Angels never trailed again.
By the end of the first inning, Houston had scored twice, yet the Angels had already established the momentum they would maintain for the rest of the night.
Mid-Inning Explosion
The decisive shift occurred in the second inning, where the Angels scored four runs to take a 4-2 lead. This run was driven by a single from Max Grissom, a sacrifice bunt by Jo Adell, and a groundout that scored Jordan Walker on an error. The Angels extended their lead further in the fourth inning, scoring four more runs to make it 8-2.
Neto singled to left field to score Jordan Walker, and Max Stassi singled to left field to score both Matt Meckler and Shohei Ohtani. Grissom then doubled to left field, scoring Stassi and Neto, pushing the score to 10-2. The offensive barrage continued in the fifth inning, with the Angels adding three runs.
Neto hit a 428-foot home run to center field, driving in Jordan Walker and Max Stassi to make the score 14-2.
Astros Stall
The Houston Astros managed only three total runs in the game, with their final score coming in the ninth inning. After trailing 18-2, Houston scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on a home run by Luis Garcia, who sent the ball 363 feet to left field. This drive scored Luis Garcia and one other runner, but the damage was already done.
The Angels closed out the game in the top of the ninth, with a sacrifice fly scoring one more runner to finalize the 18-3 margin. The Angels’ offensive depth was overwhelming, with multiple players contributing to the scoring sequence, while the Astros’ lineup struggled to generate consistent pressure.
The game ended with the Angels’ lead firmly established, reflecting a complete team effort in the box score.
Pitching and Records
Grayson Rodriguez earned the win for the Angels, pitching seven innings while allowing five hits and no earned runs. He struck out six batters and walked two, providing a solid foundation for the offense. Blake Weiman closed the game, pitching two innings with three hits, one earned run, and three strikeouts.
For the Astros, Peter Lambert took the loss, lasting three and two-thirds innings while allowing eight hits and nine earned runs. He struck out three batters and walked two. Bryan King, Tatsuya Imai, and LaMonte Wade Jr. also pitched for Houston, with King allowing five hits and five earned runs in one and one-third innings.
The Angels improved to 51-77, while the Astros fell to 64-64. The performance highlighted the Angels’ ability to execute at the plate, with Neto’s seven RBIs standing out as the key factor in the rout.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816605
