May 6: It's Back to Astros and the Sub-.500 Club, A's Take Sole Possession Of Last Place

Astros 7, Angels 6

The Angels accomplished what no one else has done - driving Dallas Keuchel from the mound while rallying to tie the game in the 9th inning - but then they lost in the 10th, in keeping with their dramatic ways.

The Astros own the division, leading the Angels by 5 1/2 games.

The box.

Rangers 3, Mariners 1

This series has a make-or-break feel for the Rangers, and they took the first step toward "make" Friday night with Rougned Odor's game-winning two-run homer in the 13th inning.

The Mariners still have a chance to keep their early May surge rolling, but they'll need to do better than going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

The box. 

Tigers 7, Athletics 2

The A's lost in a game where they didn't look good in any phase - even starter Andrew Triggs, who had been the team's bright spot in the rotation. They have won two games since April 22.

The box

Astros (20-10)

They are winning in all types of games - close ones, blow outs, at home, on the road. About the only thing other AL West teams can look at as a potential weak spot is the Astros 4-5 record outside the division. But that's sort of a double-edged fact, isn't it? Because, other AL West teams, that means they are 16-5 against you.

And yes, it appears the Astros are shopping for another ace starting pitcher. That means they already are looking toward their real foes this year: Indians, Red Sox and (maybe?) the Yankees.

Angels (15-16)

Once again, Greater Los Angeles' original baseball club gave their fans plenty of drama, a great rally and a reason to hope - and then Bud Norris gave up the winning run in the 10th. That's especially disappointing as he has pitched so well taking the place of injured Cam Bedrosian. .

Why do the Angels build you up, buttercup?

Mariners (13-17)

It all seemed there for the Mariners. A 6-4 record in the last 10 games, a Rangers team coming to town they had swept in Seattle in April. But by the end of the night, they had a gut-wrenching loss in 13 innings and had lost James Paxton and two other pitchers. Baseball will break your heart, man.

Here's a broken heart for you.

Rangers (13-17)

It's interesting how a 13-17 record can look completely different from a different point of view, right Rangers fans? A decent - by his standards - performance by Yu Darvish and extra inning heroics by Odor can cure a lot of ills and help ease the pain of that Astros beat down earlier this week. A little.

Once again, the Star-Telegram gives some North Texas flavor to these proceedings, talking baseball, barbecue and bullpens.

Athletics (12-17)

The A's looked like potential surprise contenders in April, but then so did the Twins. Oh wait, the Twins are still in first. Sigh. It's hard not to like a team that has so many potentially really good young players, but there is a lot of impatience in Northern California for the veterans who are serving as placeholders for those young players. I felt it myself watching Matt Joyce come to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the 3rd and fail to put the ball in play.

This writer felt it, too, as well as other unpleasant emotions. There is this, though: the A's open a peanut-free section of the stands, apparently a first for a MLB club.

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