If the Angels pull off the miraculous, the at-bat that propelled them will be clear.
With the bases loaded in a tied seventh inning Sunday at Minute Maid Park, third baseman Luis Valbuena battled Chris Devenski to 11 pitches, fouling off five offerings before the changeup he wanted appeared.
When it did, Valbuena drove it to the right-field wall, ferociously flipped his bat, and scooted to second base. His double supplied the difference in the Angels’ 7-5 comeback victory over the Houston Astros.
Angels starter Tyler Skaggs’ mishaps began with a first-inning curveball that spun into Jose Altuve’s cleat.