ANAHEIM, Calif. – Houston Astros ghost-runner Mauricio Dubón scampered home on a wild pitch in the top of the 10th inning, and Bennett Sousa didn’t allow a baserunner in the bottom of the 10th, as the Los Angeles Angels dropped their series opener to the Astros, 3-2, on Friday at Angel Stadium.

The Halos (36-39) dropped back to three games under .500 and 7.5 games behind the division-leading Astros (44-32).

Christian Moore, the Angels top prospect, went 1-for-4 in his home debut, with a game-tying home run in the seventh inning and a highlight-reel, inning-ending stab catch to keep the game tied in the eighth inning.

Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi struck out nine in a no-decision. Hunter Strickland took the loss in the 10th inning.

“When I came to the ballpark, obviously I found out Wash had some tests done and then you kind of just start preparing in the different mindset of managing versus bench coach,” Montgomery said. “But the one good thing–and again, Wash’s health is the most important thing here–the one nice thing is we have a group that’s prepared every day, ready to step in and do things like this if it comes to that, and the most important thing now is just to make sure he’s good and ready to go.”

Kikuchi gave up the back-to-back home runs to lead-off the game, but the Japanese lefty recovered incredibly with nine strikeouts in seven innings. All nine Ks were swinging, including a 1-2-3, 11-pitch fourth inning.

“After those first two batters, they were on the fastball a bit there,” Kikuchi said via an interpreter. “So, I had to fix all my pitches after that.”

Adell smacked his 16th home run of the season with a line-drive off the centerfield rocks in the fourth inning. Adell is second to Taylor Ward’s 19 home runs for the team lead.

The Angels threatened with bases loaded in the third inning and the sixth inning, but the Angels couldn’t get the runs across. Ward grounded out in the third, and Logan O’Hoppe and Luis Rengifo both struck out swinging in the sixth.

Moore tied the game with his first big-league home run, as he barrelled a ball to centerfield in the seventh inning.

“The guys grinded all night,” Montgomery said. “We put people on base. We had the base of loaded multiple times. We’ve heard this before, ‘couldn’t get the big hit at the right moment,’ but I mean, I liked our chances when we put ourselves in that situation and we did it multiple times against a good pitching staff over there. 

Here are some news and notes from Friday’s eventful series opener:

Moore goes big in home debut

Angels top prospect Christian Moore and newly acquired outfielder Lamonte Wade Jr. took their first reps in Anaheim as Halos on Friday, after both joined up with the club on the most recent road trip, but it was Moore with the big first impression.

One year ago today, Moore was playing in the College World Series. Just seven days ago, he made his MLB debut in Baltimore, and just four days ago, the Brooklyn-native collected his first big-league hit on Monday against his hometown Yankees. 

On Friday, Moore batted ninth, started at second base and tied the game with his first big-league dinger in the seventh inning.

“When you’re young and you’re up here and you got guys like Mike (Trout) and (Zach) Neto and all these guys who’ve been here for a little bit, you kind of question do I belong?” Moore said. “I think having that mental toughness and understanding that you belong. Just gotta have that confidence, gotta have that swagger, and that can’t go away ever, because that’s who you are.”

The rookie wasn’t done putting on a show, as his diving stab ended an eighth-inning Astros threat to keep the game tied, 2-2.

“I’m young. I got a lot of energy, so I try to give as much as I can, and if I can go out there and make a superhuman catch like that, then I’m gonna keep doing it,” Moore said. “Never done it in my life, but I’m gonna definitely try it some more now. Definitely have balls where I’m like, maybe I could have caught that, but now I’m definitely gonna try to catch ‘em some more.”

Moore was also first on the scene and in the face of Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown, after Brown hit Zach Neto up-and-in to spark a bench-clearing in the third inning.

Moore had the chance for one more storybook moment with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, but the rookie struck out swinging.

“I didn’t really see it,” Neto said, “but looking back in the video, seeing him out there, it was very special. You don’t see that enough from a rookie like that.”

Wade was acquired from San Francisco on June 8 and made his sixth appearance for the Halos against the Astros. Wade started in right field, batted seventh and went 0-for-2 before being pinch-hit for in the sixth inning.

Benches clear in the third inning

Angels shortstop Zach Neto had plenty to say to Astros starter Hunter Brown, when Brown popped Neto’s wrist with a high-and-tight pitch with one out in the third.

The first pitch of the at-bat caught the high inside corner, and the second pitch went straight back to that location and right into Neto’s arm.

“There’s no disrespect between me and him,” Neto said. “He’s battling his tail off. I’m up there trying to hit something that’s coming in at 100 and moving like crazy. He’s having a really good year, and I know it wasn’t intentional, but it was just more adrenaline, and it was just in a moment thing, man. Things escalated quickly.”

Neto immediately mouthed some choice words to Brown and aggressively signaled the number two. This was the second time Brown hit Neto up-and-in in their careers, with a first-inning plunk on June 8 last season.

“He wasn’t trying to do it last year, especially when it happened with two strikes,” Neto said. “But you go back to the history that we have, and it’s not the first time that he’s done it, and for him to go up and in like that again, it’s just enough’s enough. It doesn’t feel great. It doesn’t feel great getting hit there, and I know he’s not trying to hit me, but it’s definitely frustrating getting hit.”

Brown verbally clapped back at Neto, and the benches cleared, with the bullpens running in from left field to join the party.

The dust-up didn’t amount to much else once everyone returned to their rightful positions. The Angels loaded the bases with a two-out walk to Mike Trout, but Taylor Ward grounded out to second to end the threat.

Soler hits the IL; Campo called up

Angels outfielder Jorge Soler was put on the 10-day injured list retroactive to June 18 due to lower-back inflammation. Soler said through an interpreter that the injury flared up a week ago and was not related to recent groin tightness.

“I have just this thing that’s bothering me in my back, and let’s wait until I feel better,” Soler said.

Soler has missed the last two games due to the injury. The 33-year-old Cuban is hitting just .109 with a .180 on-base percentage in his last 15 games with three runs scored, but he said the injury isn’t the cause for his hitting struggles.

“I just wasn’t hitting. That has nothing to do with it,” Soler said.

On the season, Soler is slashing .207/.280/.630 with 25 runs and eight homers.

In his place, the Halos have called up Gustavo Campero from Triple-A Salt Lake. This is the 27-year-old Columbian’s second stint in Anaheim, following a call-up in early May.

Over 10 at-bats in five games, Campero collected two hits, a run and a stolen base with a .533 OPS.

In 32 games in Salt Lake, Campero is hitting .320 with 10 doubles, two triples and two home runs.