Weaver eyes first win of year

(SportsNetwork.com) - Jered Weaver hasn't put himself in position to win a lot of games this season.

Even if he does on Friday night in the second contest of a four-game set with the Houston Astros, some recent bullpen issues by the Los Angeles Angels could still hinder the veteran picking up first victory of the season.

The Angels saw closer Huston Street blow a save chance for a second night in a row on Thursday, but unlike the previous night the offense could not bail him out and L.A. dropped a 3-2 decision.

Street failed to hold a one-run lead on Wednesday against Seattle, but Johnny Giavotella bailed out his closer with an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to secure a 4-3 victory. That was Los Angeles' second straight win and came a day after reliever Joe Smith allowed three runs in the eighth inning of an eventual 5-4 win over the Mariners.

The Angels were not as lucky last night. Handed a 2-0 lead, Street opened the ninth by giving up back-to-back singles before recording an out. However, Jake Marisnick and Preston Tucker followed with consecutive run-scoring singles and Jonathan Villar drew a walk to load the bases.

Jose Altuve then hit into a fielder's choice that scored a run as he beat out a potential double-play ball and the Angels went down in order in the bottom of the frame.

"Great win for us," Astros manager A. J. Hinch said. "We got quality at-bats in the end against their closer, and that's hard to do."

Luke Gregerson earned his seventh save of the season for the Astros, who snapped a three-game slide.

Street's blown save cost Hector Santiago a win after he gave up just one hit and four walks over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He did commit two balks as well.

"He used his secondary pitches really well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of his starter. "He gave us a chance to win, and unfortunately we couldn't hold on to it for him in the end."

Mike Trout hit a solo homer and Kole Calhoun added an RBI single for the Angels, who have lost five of seven.

Scioscia may need Weaver to be on point tonight, but the former AL All-Star is winless through his first six starts of the season for the first time in his career. He is 0-4 with a 6.29 earned run average.

Weaver lost his second start in a row on Sunday with a 5-0 setback to the San Francisco Giants. He yielded five runs on 10 hits, including two homers, over five innings and walked a batter for the first time in four starts.

The 32-year-old righty is 3-2 with a 2.95 ERA in six prior meetings with the Astros, getting a no-decision against them on April 17 despite six innings of two-run ball.

Getting the call tonight for the Astros will be 34-year-old veteran hurler Roberto Hernandez.

Hernandez is 1-2 with a 4.25 ERA, with his numbers taking a bit of a hit in Sunday's no-decision against Seattle. He allowed five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and two walks over six innings, but the Astros ended up winning a 7-6 decision.

The righty has never beaten the Angels, going 0-4 with a save and 2.47 ERA in 14 career meetings, including 10 starts. He got a no-decision against them on April 17, charged with three runs on three hits and a walk over six innings.

The Astros won two of three over the Angels in Houston from April 17-19, but Los Angeles won eight of 10 at home in this series last season.