ERST LESEN! » broke the game open in the fifth. T

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Even after a late flight home from Texas led into an early three-run deficit, the Los Angeles Angels incredible late-season offensive barrage still wouldnt stop. David Freese hit a two-run homer and Mike Trout had an RBI triple during Los Angeles seven-run fifth inning, and the Angels beat the Houston Astros 11-3 Friday night for their ninth consecutive victory. Kole Calhoun had a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fifth for the major league-leading Angels (92-55), who began their final homestand by reducing their magic number to five for their first AL West title since 2009. They lead spiraling Oakland, which lost 4-2 in Seattle, by 11 games with 15 to play. "Were just playing good baseball," said Calhoun, who had his 12th three-hit game of the season. "Confidence is huge, and it just seems like were all playing together. Theres never a panic mode. Its been fun coming to the yard every day." Trout had an RBI double in the fourth and Howie Kendrick added a two-run double in the sixth for Los Angeles. The Angels have won 15 of 17 overall, highlighted by their longest winning streak since August 2004. After a slow start in their first game back from a 10-day, four-city road trip, the Angels obliterated Houstons early 3-0 lead with another eye-popping night from the majors most productive offence. Los Angeles has scored at least seven runs in eight consecutive games, matching the 1979 franchise record. "Its certainly a good time for it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They cracked the door open for us a little bit, and then (we got) just some key hits all the way around." The Angels scored 70 runs during their eight-game road streak, and they increased that crazy offensive pace in their return to the Big A, trouncing the only team that has beaten them since Aug. 25. The Astros took two straight from Los Angeles early last week. Brett Oberholtzer (5-11) couldnt get through the fifth for the Astros, who had won eight of 10. "Theyre a good team, and theyre on a roll," Houston interim manager Tom Lawless said. "Theres no doubt about that. So if we dont play a clean game ... we made a miscue here, we made a miscue there, and they just took advantage of it. Thats what good teams do." The Angels had seven hits in the fifth, scoring their first run of the inning when Jake Marisnick dropped Collin Cowgills fly ball in right for an error. Calhoun, Trout and Albert Pujols all drove in runs before Freeses eighth homer, his second in 42 games. "I just missed it," Marisnick said. "I just dropped it. The ball has got to be caught. It was a big point in the game and it gave them some momentum." C.J. Wilson (12-9) struggled just to reach the fifth, but the Angels offence secured his second straight victory. The inconsistent left-hander gave up seven hits and struck out six. Marisnick, from nearby Riverside, got a 20-foot RBI single in the first inning when Wilson and catcher Chris Iannetta couldnt field his bases-loaded topper cleanly. Los Angeles maintained its four-game lead over Baltimore (88-59) for the majors best record. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Robbie Grossman reached first in the fourth inning when Lawless successfully challenged a call for the first time as the Astros manager. Replays showed C.J. Cron hadnt applied a tag after catching an errant throw from Erick Aybar. Grossman came around to score on Dexter Fowlers double. BEARD AND WEIRD Before the game, Angels President Tim Carpino donned a fake black beard as he presented the AL pitcher of the month award to right-hander Matt Shoemaker. The executives phoney facial hair was even bigger than Shoemakers tonsorial trademark. Several Angels reserves also wore fake beards for a group photo with Shoemaker. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Cleanup hitter Josh Hamilton missed his eighth straight game with an injured right shoulder, and the offence again didnt miss him. The 2010 AL MVPs return is still uncertain. ... LHP Joe Thatcher was activated from the disabled list after a six-week absence with a sprained ankle. UP NEXT Astros RHP Scott Feldman (8-10, 3.99 ERA) starts the middle game of the series against RHP Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.58), who looks for his AL-leading 17th win. Yusei Kikuchi Jersey . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Ricardo Sanchez Mariners Jersey . -- Derek Jeter spoke for 25 minutes, 44 seconds and answered 26 questions about his decision to retire at the end of this season. https://www.cheapmariners.com/1125k-phillips-valdez-jersey-mariners.html . Warren made six birdies and a bogey for a 5-under total of 139 to sit one shot ahead of Felipe Aguilar of Chile, who carded a 69. David Horsey of England was also on 5 under through 15 holes to join Warren atop the leaderboard before play was stopped. Mariners Jerseys China .com)LeBron clearly likes his Italian sports cars, and thats ok with me, so up next up is the 458 Spider. Jake Fraley Jersey . DArnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catchers seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth. The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win.The New York Islanders announced on Saturday night that veteran defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky has not been medically cleared to participate for Slovakia at the Olympics. Visnovsky was re-evaluted by team doctors following Saturday nights 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche and the decision was made. "Im honored to have been selected to represent Slovakia at the Sochi Games," Visnovsky said in a release. &quuot;Im disappointed that I will not have this opportunity to compete for my country, but respect the decision the Islanders have made.dddddddddddd Im excited to watch Team Slovakia compete throughout the next two weeks and wish them all the best." Visnovsky, 37, has only appeared in 14 games this season, where he has a goal and three assists. This would have been Visnovksys third Olympic Games. ' ' '