KOLE CALHOUN scored the winning run in the ninth as the Angels beat the Astros 2-1 (Flickr/Keith Allison).

Not all games are won by impressive home runs. Andrelton Simmon’s high chopper ground ball in the bottom of the ninth lingered long enough to enable Kole Calhoun to race home with the winning run Saturday as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Houston Astros 2-1 at the Big A.

Calhoun had walked, advanced to third on a single by Albert Pujols and scored on Simmon’s less-than-mighty blast. The win lifted the Halos to 16-15, still second in the American League West and 3.5 games back of the first place Astros.

“This team just doesn’t quit, doesn’t give up,” Calhoun said. “Any time we’ve been down lately, we find a way to get back in it.”

Playing again without Mike Trout – resting a hamstring strain – the Angels didn’t have much offense, getting only five hits in the game.

But starter J.C. Ramirez was up to the task of a close game, working six innings and giving up eight hits but just one run, walking two and striking out two.

For the series finale Sunday, the Angels will send Matt Shoemaker (1-1) to the mound.

OILERS WIN A ‘STATE TITLE” AT UCLA

The Huntington Beach High School baseball team won an unofficial state baseball crown Saturday at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium Saturday when it defeated Bellarmine Prep of San Jose in the title game of the Boras Classic.

Since there is no official CIF state tournament, the Boras Classic winner is considered by some to be the equivalent of a California champion.

Hagen Danner, who is committed to the Bruins, took advantage of some advance home field edge and threw a three-hitter for the Oilers. He had a no-hitter working through the first six innings. He was named defensive MVP for the tournament and teammate Nick Pratto was offensive MVP.

Huntington Beach is now 25-3 and headed toward the CIF-SS Southern Division playoffs.