ANAHEIM — Alex Bregman put the Astros ahead with a two-run single in the fifth inning and Jose Urquidy gave up four hits in five innings in Houston’s 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
Chas McCormick had an RBI single and rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña had three hits as the defending AL champions went three for four in the opening series at Angel Stadium.
Bregman began life without teammate Carlos Correa, getting six hits, including two homers, and driving in six runs in Houston’s first four games, most notably a two-out, two-run RBI single off reliever Austin Warren.
Jack Mayfield homered against his former team for the Angels, but they managed to score more than two runs just once in the four-game series, and that was in a blowout loss on Friday.
Urquidy (1-0) resumed his great finish to 2021 with five strong innings, walking one and striking out two. The loser was José Suárez (0-1).
For the Astros, the Dominicans Jeremy Peña, 5-3 with a run scored and José Siri, 3-1 with a run scored; Puerto Rican Martín Maldonado, 2-0 with two runs scored and Cuban Aldemys Días 4-0.