ANAHEIM -- Los Angeles Angels rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña turned in another impressive outing on Monday, further solidifying his status as one of the club’s few bright spots in an otherwise difficult season. Facing the Houston Astros in the series opener at Angel Stadium, Ureña worked six solid innings and continued the consistent form that has marked his emergence in the Angels’ rotation. His performance kept the game close and gave Los Angeles a chance to open the set on a positive note before the late innings unraveled. The Angels’ bullpen could not preserve the effort, and the Astros rallied in the ninth inning to hand Los Angeles a 6-4 defeat. Relievers José Fermin and Sam Bachman combined to allow four runs in the final frame, turning a tight contest into a loss and leaving Ureña with a tough-luck no-decision despite his effective start. The setback underscored the team’s ongoing struggles to support strong starting pitching, even as Ureña’s emergence has provided a rare source of optimism in a challenging campaign.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.