GARRETT RICHARDS pitched well Tuesday in his return, but the Angels still lost 1-0 in Anaheim to the Houston Astros (Flickr/Keith Allison).

The return of Garrett Richards to the starting rotation of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was a triumph; the outcome of the game was not.
Despite a strong performance by Richards – he gave up just four hits and one run in five innings – the Angels suffered their fourth loss in five games on Tuesday, falling 1-0 to the Houston Astros at the Big A.

The defeat put their record at 73-71 and dropped them two games back in the chase for the American League’s second wild card spot.

The Angels themselves only mustered two hits in the game, and were unable to solve Justin Verlander, who worked eight innings and yielded one hit. He struck out nine batters and walked one.

Tyler Skaggs (1-5) will make the start for the Halos on Wednesday.

BRADLEY CLINTON scores of the three goals he collected in Pacifica’s 15-6 win over Warren (Photo by Randy Toma).

Pacifica poloists doing swimmingly

The Pacifica High School boys’ water polo team is off to a strong start. The Mariners won their first three games. In recent contests, the M’s defeated Warren High 15-6 and Lakewood 16-4. So far, they’ve outscored opponents 48-13.

Pacifica is next in action Wednesday (Sept. 13) at St. John Bosco, and then will visit La Habra High on Tuesday, Sept. 19.