ANAHEIM, Calif. Franmil Reyes Jersey . -- David Freese is starting to pick up his run production, which is something the Los Angeles Angels have been waiting half a season to see. Freese hit a two-run double, Matt Shoemaker pitched in and out of trouble for six innings, and the Angels beat the Houston Astros 5-2 Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. Freese has six RBIs in his last five games, two more than he had in the previous 27 games in which he had an at-bat. "Weve been talking about David for a while, and we need him," said manager Mike Scioscia, who has kept Freese in the bottom third of the batting order since June 17. "Hes a guy that potentially deepens the middle of your lineup. He hasnt gotten off to a good start, and were at the halfway point. "Hopefully hes finding a comfort level. I think the last 30 or so at-bats hes been driving the ball a little bit better." Shoemaker (6-2) allowed two runs, seven hits and three walks, and worked with runners on base in every inning. The right-hander, who began the season in the bullpen, gave up eight runs and 11 hits in four innings on Friday in a loss at Kansas City. He had been 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his seven previous starts this season. "It was a successful outing, but a little bit of a struggle," Shoemaker said. "I had to make some big pitches to get out of some jams, and the defence picked me up huge, making some big plays. It was a positive thing to bounce back from that outing to this one." Shoemaker had seven strikeouts against the Astros, giving him 57 through his first 10 big league starts. That broke the franchise record of 56 set by Bo Belinsky in 1962. "He has it in his game, thats for sure," Scioscia said. "If you look at his career in the minor leagues, he has struck out his share of guys. But you never know how a guys stuff is going to play in the major leagues until he gets an opportunity. "Shoe definitely has some out pitches and some pitches that he can get strikeouts with. But the best games hes going to throw are going to be the ones where hes in the zone early with good stuff and changing speeds and maybe getting some easier outs. He had to work hard to get through six innings." Jason Grilli, obtained from Pittsburgh on Friday, pitched a scoreless eighth in his home debut, and Joe Smith worked a hitless ninth for his 10th save. The Angels have won seven straight at home, their longest streak since another seven-game stretch in August 2006. Brett Oberholtzer (2-7) gave up five runs, nine hits and three walks over 6 1-3 innings in his third start since getting recalled from Triple-A on June 28. He was 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA in his first seven starts before back-to-back victories over Seattle and Baltimore. After the game, he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Oberholtzer was bailed out by inning-ending double plays in the second and third innings, after giving up Howie Kendricks RBI single in the first. Mike Trout was doubled off second base in the third after rookie left fielder Enrique Hernandez made a diving catch of Albert Pujols sinking liner, but the Angels scored four runs in the fourth to grab a 5-2 lead. C.J. Cron tied it with an RBI single, and Freese doubled to right-centre, the fourth straight one-out hit. Freese scored on Chris Iannettas sac fly. Houston took a 2-1 lead in the third. Jose Altuve doubled after a leadoff walk to No. 9 hitter Marwin Gonzalez, Jason Castro singled off the glove of first baseman Pujols to drive in the Astros first run, and Altuve scored on a grounder by Springer. Shoemaker retired Dominguez on a double-play grounder after a walk to Singleton. "Its just tough, not scoring runs when you have situations with men on base early in the game where you can jump on a team," designated hitter Chris Carter said. "Were in a little rough patch now, but I think well be better the rest of the series." Altuve, who had three hits, leads the AL in batting (.347) and stolen bases (37). The only players who finished a season atop the league in both categories were Ty Cobb (1909, 1911 and 1917), George Sisler (1922), Snuffy Stirnweiss (1945) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001). "Hes definitely a phenomenal hitter and hes tough to get out, so you have to mess up his timing and make good pitches," Shoemaker said. NOTES: Scioscia earned his 1,281st regular-season victory, tying Whitey Herzog for 34th place on baseballs career list. Scioscia reached the mark in 57 fewer games. ... RHP Josh Fields will be reinstated from the disabled list on Friday to fill Oberholtzers roster spot. ... It was the 44th anniversary of the first no-hitter at the "Big A," thrown by Clyde Wright against Oakland. ... The Astros are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the majors worst record (36-51). ... Houston is 0 for 44 when trailing after eight innings. ... The Astros became the final team this season to draw one million spectators on the road. Tommy John Indians Jersey . Louis Blues are reportedly taking restricted free agent forward Vladimir Sobotka to arbitration. Jim Thome Indians Jersey . The 49ers announced the deal Tuesday. San Francisco selected Lloyd in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/ . - Even with a new coach, the Denver Nuggets still love to push the basketball.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish will miss at least a couple of starts for the Rangers because of right elbow inflammation. Texas placed its ace from Japan on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday night, a day before his scheduled start against Tampa Bay. He will have an MRI on Thursday. The move was retroactive to Sunday, a day after Darvish allowed six runs and nine hits over four innings in a loss at Texas. The Rangers said he didnt have any issues during that game, but felt tightness when throwing on the side Monday and that feeling never went away. "Yu had expressed that he could pitch probably if we were in a different spot, a meaningful game (Thursday)," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He agreed, we agreed, it was better to be cautious. ... With the year weve had with injuries, were not going to push it and take any chance at this point." Darvish is the 14th player currently on the DL for the Rangers. That is the most in the majors, as are the teams 24 overall disabled list uses, including Darvish at the beginning of the season because of neck stiffness. Texas purchased the contract of left-hander Alex Claudio from Triple-A Round Rock to be in the bullpen a night after the Rangers 14-inning victory. Left-hander Robbie Ross will be recalled from Round Rock on Thursday to start in Darvishs spot. The Rangers will have to mmake a corresponding move to add Ross at that point. Fake Indians Jerseys. Darvish (10-7, 3.06 ERA) skipped throwing a normal bullpen session between starts this week. When talking to reporters Tuesday, during his normal availability two days before each of his scheduled starts, he referred to a break at this point in the season and said nothing about soreness in his elbow. Team physician Dr. Keith Meister initially examined Darvish later Tuesday night. When asked if there was any thought of shutting Darvish down for the season, with the team last in the AL West and well out of playoff contention, Daniels said it was premature to answer that before getting MRI results. "I dont think thats where his head is, thats not where our head is," Daniels said. "Based on what Ive been told so far, no, thats not a thought." Ross was a converted reliever who started this season in the Rangers rotation, going 1-4 with a 4.78 ERA in nine starts before going back to the bullpen. When he was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on June 17, he was 2-4 with a 5.61 ERA in 18 games. "Hes throwing the ball well. ... Hes made progress and was ready to get another opportunity," Daniels said. "He feels good about himself. Hes got his confidence back, made a couple of mechanical changes, but the biggest thing, hes got his confidence back." ' ' '