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HOUSTON -- Ricky Nolasco latest solid outing snapped a lengthy losing streak for the Los Angeles Angels.Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Nolasco pitched seven strong innings, helping Los Angeles hinder the Houston Astros wild-card hopes with a 2-0 victory Thursday night.The Angels ended an 11-game skid and pushed Houston 1 1/2 games behind the Tigers for the second AL wild card.Its nice to win, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. We have played some tough games. Those guys have had our number. Theyre a tough team. They have played well against us, but we are going to keep playing hard.Pujols homered into the Crawford Boxes in left field, helping Los Angeles move to 2-11 against the Astros this season.Obviously, you want to take the lead right away, especially when those guys have been playing pretty well against us this year, Pujols said. It was one of those things that I got a good pitch to hit and got a good swing. Nolasco did a heck of a job throwing seven innings. It is not easy to pitch against those guys over there. They have a heck of a lineup.Nolasco (7-14) gave up five singles and struck out five.I was spinning the ball pretty good, Nolasco said. I thought I was feeling the strike zone for the most part. I was challenging with fastballs when I had to. I was pitching off some good breaking balls to keep them off balanced.He did not allow a baserunner past second. Nolasco had a second straight scoreless start after throwing six shutout innings Saturday against Toronto. He has had scoreless outings in three of his last five starts.I feel like I have been throwing the ball well all year, just putting it all together now, Nolasco said. I am throwing the ball well and just trying to run with it.JC Ramirez pitched the eighth before Andrew Bailey pitched the ninth for his fifth save.Mike Fiers (11-8) allowed two runs and four hits with a season-high nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander retired 13 straight at one point. Fiers had his second straight strong outing after throwing six scoreless innings Saturday in Seattle.Jose Altuve had three hits for Houston, which grounded into three double plays.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (left forearm tightness) played catch and will throw some bullpens in the coming week. Hes symptom free, but we are going to obviously be very conservative where his treatment is now to make sure that this doesnt re-occur or turn into anything bigger, Scioscia said. Right now he feels great.PUJOLS MOVING UP THE CHARTSPujols two RBI broke a tie with Frank Robinson for 20th on the career list. His 116 RBI this season are his most since driving in 118 in 2010. The home run was Pujols 53rd against the Astros.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Alex Meyer (1-3, 5.63) will make his fifth start of the season and fourth for the Angels on Friday. Meyer earned his first career win in his last start Sunday, tossing five shutout innings against Toronto.Astros: RHP Doug Fister (12-12, 4.45) will make his 31st start of the season Friday, looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Fister allowed seven runs in less than four innings Sunday at Seattle. Stitched Avalanche Jerseys . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Fake Avalanche Jerseys . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Avalanche Jerseys 2021 . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. MIAMI -- Don Mattingly says Miami Marlins officials havent discussed trying to coax Alex Rodriguez into a comeback, but he didnt rule out the idea.The Marlins manager was asked Saturday about the possibility of signing Rodriguez, who played his final game for the New York Yankees on Friday.We havent really talked about it, Mattingly said. Youve got to have a place to play. I know he hasnt played in the field in a long time. I dont know where he fits right now.Rodriguez grew up in Miami and still lives in South Florida. Hes friendly with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, who brought home run king Barry Bonds back to the majors this season as the Marlins hitting coach.Mattingly was a Yankees coach in 2004-07 when Rodriguez played there.I always liked Alex, Mattingly said. He was always one of those guys who played hard. He was never afraid of the field and always wanted to play every day.The 41-year-old Rodriguez was unconditionally released SSaturday by Yankees.dddddddddddd He was batting .200 and said hes unsure whether hell play again.Mattingly acknowledged the Marlins might be in the market for help at first base. Theyve been without starter Justin Bour since July 2 because of an ankle injury as they bid for their first playoff berth in 13 years.Rodriguez played shortstop and third base but has spent little time in the field since 2013.Theres no reason he couldnt play first. He has the ability to do a lot of things, Mattingly said. We miss Justin a little bit over there at first. I dont think weve been able to replace that. Were always looking at ways of getting better in different areas.Rodriguez needs four more homers to become the fourth player to hit 700. His 2,086 RBI are second to Hank Aarons 2,297 since RBI became an official statistic. ' ' '