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HOUSTON -- It seemed only a matter of time before the odds finally worked against the Astros in their season series against the Angels, who entered Thursday having dropped 11 consecutive games against Houston.In the opener of the penultimate series between the American League West rivals, the Astros (81-72) wasted a second consecutive solid pitching performance from right-hander Mike Fiers. The Angels rode a first-inning home run from Albert Pujols to a 2-0 victory and just their second win over the Astros in 13 meetings this season.The Astros inconsistent starting pitching carried them through a six-game road trip in which they won five times, but the one weak link of late was responsible for that lone loss in Seattle and will take the mound on Friday night looking to even the series against the Angels (67-86).Astros right-hander Doug Fister (12-12, 4.45 ERA) has suffered through a miserable final month, going 0-3 with a 12.42 ERA over four starts. Fister, 3-3 with a 2.72 ERA in his career against the Angels, had been the Astros most consistent starter this season before cratering in September. With Fister lasting at least five innings only once in his last five appearances, an early hook is certainly in play.Ive gone with that model the whole (month of) September, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said of having starters on a short leash. I want to get these guys in a position to hand the ball to the bullpen in a good spot. Dougs a pro. Hes been really good for us at times this year. Hes had a couple times where he hasnt been as good. I know recently his performance hasnt been up to his standards.Its all hands on deck the entire month of September. Doesnt mean he (Fister) cant last five, six or seven innings.Angels right-hander Alex Meyer (1-3, 5.63 ERA) will make his sixth appearance and fifth start of the season. Acquired from Minnesota on Aug. 1 along with right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who won the series opener with seven shutout innings of work, Meyer earned his first career win on Sunday against the Blue Jays after tossing five scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory.Meyer fanned seven batters in his outing, setting a career high along with his innings pitched. After struggling in two appearances with the Twins to the tune of an 0-1 record and 12.27 ERA, including a May 3 start against the Astros where he surrendered three runs on three hits and three walks over 2 2/3 innings, Meyer is showing signs of settling in with the Angels, his third professional organization.Hopefully more of the same of what hes thrown the last couple outings, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Meyer, who was selected by the Washington Nationals in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2011 draft. Weve seen a big arm, weve seen a guy that spins the ball well. I think hes finding a consistent arm slot and release point and through all this process of where Alex is right now, hes in the process of finding himself again.Hopefully well continue to see that continued growth moving forward of what hes been doing since hes been here. Cheap Penguins Jerseys . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Fake Penguins Jerseys . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Custom Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Pittsburgh Penguins Store . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home.SEATTLE -- Hisashi Iwakuma kept his pitches down and the ball in the ballpark. Most of the time. Iwakuma (8-4) allowed a solo home run to Mark Trumbo, but kept the Angels to three runs over seven innings as Seattle completed its first sweep of the season by beating the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 Sunday. It was an improvement on a lousy month by the Mariners All-Star, who had allowed at least four runs in each of his previous five starts and 10 home runs over his last four outings. "He was good. Just a couple bad misses but he was downhill better. He executed pitches better," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. Following his previous outing -- his shortest of the season allowing six runs in three innings against Boston -- Iwakuma noted some minor mechanical adjustments he needed to fix to get back on track. Against the Angels, Iwakuma had a better feel for his fastball and was able to mix in his breaking pitches more effectively. He struck out seven for his first win since June 10. "Today, overall, I thought I had a better fastball. I had more life with my fastball," Iwakuma said through a translator. "I was able to make an adjustment. I gave up one home run but then overall I thought I had better command than I did the last couple of starts." The day didnt go nearly as well for Angels starter Joe Blanton. Blanton (2-12) left the game after allowing the first three runners to reach base in the fifth inning. His four innings pitched was the shortest outing of an already tumultuous season and Blanton appeared to snap in the dugout after coming off the mound in the fourth. Blanton attacked a water cooler and threw it to the ground and appeared to engage in a verbal altercation with catcher Chris Iannetta. Iannetta called it "a miscommunication" but wouldnt elaborate on the incident. Blanton was also mum on specifics but chalked it up to frustration. "Any time things arent going good it kind of brings things to a little volcano, a little head, whatever you want to call it," Blanton said. "Things arent going well. You try and do more out there competing with everything. Things happen. Guys get mad at giving up runs, striking out. Its part of it sometimes." Michael Saunders hit a two-run homer and Raul Ibanez had an RBI double as the Marriners topped Los Angeles for the third straight day.dddddddddddd The Mariners have now homered in 22 consecutive games, the longest streak in the majors since Atlantas 23-game run in 2006. Seattles string is the best by an AL club since Texas set the big league record with 27 in 2002. Seattles long-dormant offence has come alive in recent weeks. They currently lead the majors for home runs in July and are second in batting average and runs scored for the month. "Were doing our jobs. Were getting runners in from third base. Were moving runners over." Saunders said. The biggest thing that was lacking was we were taking our walks, we were getting into scoring position but we were missing the two-out hits or the ball in the gap and thats what were starting to do. Were driving the ball more." Tom Wilhelmsen pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 19th save of the season. Saunders connected in the second off Joe Blanton (2-12) after Justin Smoak singled. Kyle Seager singled and Smoak walked to lead off the fourth, and a sacrifice fly by Mike Zunino made it 3-0. Trumbo hit his 21st homer in fifth to put the Angels on the board. Brad Miller singled, Nick Franklin walked and Ibanez doubled to open the fifth and chase Blanton from the game. Michael Kohn entered and struck out the side to limit the damage for the Angels Los Angeles rallied in the sixth. Alberto Callaspo hit a two-out single with the bases loaded to score Mike Trout and Howie Kendrick as the Angels pulled within a run. NOTES: Mariners RHP Stephen Pryor will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Everett either Monday or Tuesday of this week. He has been on the disabled list since April 15 with a torn back muscle. ... Blanton leads the league in losses (12), hits allowed (148) and home runs allowed (23). ... Mariners 3B Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Since June 30 Seager is batting .442 with two doubles, five home runs, 10 RBI, eight walks and 16 runs scored. ... Angels CF Mike Trout extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Hes batting .417 with four doubles, two triples, two home runs, six RBI, five walks and eight runs scored since July 3. ... Angels 2B Alberto Callaspo extended his hitting streak to nine games. ... Iwakuma is not expected to pitch in the All-Star game Tuesday. ' ' '