Angels coast to 9-3 win over Houston Astros

KEY MOMENT: With two outs and the bases empty in the first inning, Houston first baseman Chris Carter booted Albert Pujols’ grounder for an error. Pitcher Scott Feldman walked Raul Ibanez and Howie Kendrick to load the bases. David Freese stroked a two-run single to center, and Hank Conger hit an RBI single to right, the three unearned runs propelling the Angels toward a lopsided victory.

AT THE PLATE: Every Angels starter had at least one hit, and the Angels went six for 14 with runners in scoring position. Kendrick had two hits, walked twice and scored twice, lifting his average to .310. He has 19 walks on the season, only four fewer than he had in all of 2013.

ON THE MOUND: Michael Kohn replaced starter Tyler Skaggs to start the eighth with a 9-1 lead and was tagged for two runs and three hits, only the second time in 21 appearances the right-hander has been charged with a run.

ON THE BASES: Collin Cowgill’s aggressive baserunning led to two Angels runs. In the fourth, he tagged from first on Erick Aybar’s fly to left, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Mike Trout’s infield single. In the fifth, he raced from second to third on Trout’s high chopper to third and slid into the bag before Matt Dominguez’s tag while a run scored.

ACCOUNTABLE ANGEL: Catcher Chris Iannetta took full blame for Monday night’s botched pickoff attempt, when pitcher Garrett Richards threw wide of third baseman Luis Jimenez in the first, an error that aided Houston’s three-run rally. “Mike gives signs from the dugout,” Iannetta said, referring to Manager Mike Scioscia. “I thought he put a pick on and gave the sign to Garrett. He didn’t. That one’s on me.”

REHAB REPORT: Right fielder Kole Calhoun (right-ankle sprain) hit .500 (11 for 22) with a homer, two doubles and five RBIs in five games for triple-A Salt Lake. He returned to Anaheim on Tuesday and will be activated for Wednesday night’s game. … Left fielder Josh Hamilton (torn left-thumb ligament) will begin a stint with Salt Lake on Thursday and is expected to join the Angels on Monday in Seattle.

EXTRA BASES: Trout started at designated hitter for the second time in 10 days, Scioscia saying he wanted to give the center fielder a day off his feet “to freshen up a bit.” … To make room for Freese, the Angels optioned Jimenez to triple A. … Jockey Victor Espinoza, who rode California Chrome to wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and Art Sherman, the horse’s trainer, will throw out ceremonial first pitches before Wednesday night’s game.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Jered Weaver (4-3, 3.14 ERA) will oppose Houston right-hander Collin McHugh (2-2, 3.48 ERA) at Angel Stadium on Wednesday at 7 p.m. On the air: FS West. Radio: 830 AM.