Hector Santiago exits early in Angels’ 6-1 loss to Astros

KEY MOMENT: Angels starter Hector Santiago had gotten lucky with a pickoff, but still, he had two runners on with two outs in the second inning. He had plodded through the first five outs, and already, his pitch count was high. Facing Houston’s Gregorio Petit, Santiago made what he thought was a good pitch. But Petit blasted it far over the left-field wall for a three-run home run. Santiago would last just one more out before he was pulled in the third inning.

AT THE PLATE: The Angels couldn’t muster a hit until the seventh inning when Mike Trout broke up Dallas Keuchel’s no-hitter. The next hitter, Albert Pujols, grounded into a double play. The blackout on offense comes after an incredible run at the plate. The Angels had averaged 8.6 runs per game during their 10-game winning streak.

ON THE MOUND: Astros left-hander Keuchel was nearly flawless. Santiago was not. Keuchel took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He gave up one run and three hits over seven innings. Santiago lasted just six outs. Since pitch counts have been tracked, no pitcher has thrown so many pitches (82) and lasted so few innings (two). Santiago threw six more balls than strikes. At one point, he said, it got so bad he was just trying to throw balls down the middle. Before this, Santiago had a 2.04 earned-run average since July 18, was 4-0 and threw 63% strikes.

STREAK SNAPPED: The Angels’ winning streak was stopped at 10 games, just shy of tying the franchise record of 11 games, set in 1964. It was the longest streak since 2002.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Matt Shoemaker (15-4, 3.16 ERA) will face Seattle Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (14-7, 3.11) on Monday at Angel Stadium at 7 p.m. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 830.