OC Register: Jaime Barria tosses six scoreless innings in Angels’ 2nd straight victory over Astros

[AngelsWin.com]

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  Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, left, high-fives teammate Andrelton Simmons after Simmons’ two-run home run during the sixth inning of Friday’s game against the Astros in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the first inning of Friday’s game against the Astros in Houston. Barria pitched six shutout innings. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  Houston Astros relief pitcher Framber Valdez (65) throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 31: David Fletcher #6 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim flies out in the first inning Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 31, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels catcher Jose Briceno (10) slides as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve turns a double play at second base during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 31: Taylor Ward #3 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim flies out in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 31, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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  Home plate umpire Eric Cooper (56) and Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch (14) have words before the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Houston. Hinch was ejected after the exchange. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the first inning of Friday’s game against the Astros in Houston. Barria pitched six shutout innings in a 3-0 win. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 31: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a sacrifice fly to center field in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 31, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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  HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 31: Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 31, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons watches his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada, left, takes the ball from starting pitcher Framber Valdez (65) who is relieved after a single by Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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  HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 31: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim makes a catch on soft fly ball by George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros in the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 31, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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  HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 31: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros has words with home plate umpire Eric Cooper about the strike zone at Minute Maid Park on August 31, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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  HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 31: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros strikes out in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Minute Maid Park on August 31, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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HOUSTON — It’s tough to pitch back-to-back against the same team. It’s even tougher to do it against a team with a lineup as stacked as the Houston Astros.

But Jaime Barría bounced back from a rough start last weekend against Houston to pitch six strong innings in the Angels’ 3-0 victory on Friday night.

Rookie relievers Justin Anderson and Ty Buttrey helped the Angels finish the shutout, with Buttrey working in and out of a jam against the heart of the order.

Barría had allowed four runs in three innings against the Astros at Angel Stadium last weekend. He followed Andrew Heaney, who gave up five runs to the Astros in Anaheim but shut them out over six innings on Thursday night in Houston.

When Barría had trouble last time against Houston, he said afterward that the Astros were stealing the catcher’s signs when they had runners at second in the first inning.

The Angels changed their signs after that, and this time Barría mostly avoided the problem by not allowing the Astros to get runners to second. He gave up just three hits and a walk.

Barría faced only one batter with a runner at second. In the fourth inning, when Carlos Correa was at second, Barría took a long walk behind the mound. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons then stepped in front of Correa while catcher José Briceño was giving the signs.

Barría retired Marwin Gonzalez, part of a string of nine in a row he set down to finish his 85-pitch outing.

After that, Anderson worked a hitless seventh and Buttrey got through a grueling eighth. He gave up a single to Josh Reddick and a double to Tony Kemp to start the inning, putting runners at second and third.

With the Minute Maid Park crowd roaring, Buttrey struck out George Springer. After a walk to Alex Bregman loaded the bases, Buttrey struck out reigning MVP José Altuve. Buttrey threw Altuve a 99.9-mph fastball – his hardest pitch so far in the majors – and then he got him on a slider. Correa popped out to end the inning.

The Angels got Barria a lead in the sixth when Kole Calhoun walked and went to third on a single by David Fletcher. Mike Trout drove in one with a sacrifice fly. An out later, Simmons lined one into the short porch in left field, for a two-run homer.

Simmons, who had three hits on Thursday, is 9 for 13 with three homers this season at Minute Maid Park.

PUJOLS IN 2019

After playing 70 games at first base this season – more than twice as many as in the previous two years combined – Albert Pujols ended up needing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

That prompted the question about whether Pujols will be able to handle playing first next year, when he’ll be 39.

“We’ll wait to hear what the doctors have to say on that,” General Manager Billy Eppler said Friday, two days after Pujols’ surgery. “He obviously puts a lot of load on those knees and ankles and feet and his lower half in general. He’s diligent about his maintenance program and that’s something that will be part of his regular routine moving forward. I’ll wait to hear from the doctors in their follow-up what they have to say.”

ALSO

Without Pujols, the Angels are now free to use Ohtani at DH any time they want, and on Friday he got his 10th start of the season against a left-handed pitcher. He has started five games against lefties since coming back from the disabled list in July. …

Scioscia said the Angels are expecting to bring three players up on Saturday, the day of expanded rosters. They will add more players after Triple-A Salt Lake’s season ends on Monday.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Felix Peña, 1-4, 4.52) at Astros (RHP Josh James, 6-4, 3.40 at Triple-A, major league debut), Saturday, 4 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM)

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