Only for Guild Members » Phoenix also signed captain Shane Doan before

HOUSTON -- Garrett Richards followed the worst start of his career with one of his best. Matt Joyce Jersey . He also a truly special inning, striking out the side on just nine pitches. Richards fanned nine to match his major league best, helping the Los Angeles Angels snap a season-worst four-game skid with a 4-0 win over Houston Astros on Wednesday night. Richards (5-2) bounced back from a terrible outing in his last start when he allowed five runs while getting only two outs. It was the shortest non-injury-related start of his career. "I definitely came into this game with a little chip on my shoulder," Richards said. "Last one was embarrassing. And thats not the pitcher I am." In the second, he joined Nolan Ryan as the only Angels pitchers to strike out the side on nine pitches. Ryan did it in 1972. "That was my guy growing up," Richards said. "Its cool. Its cool to be put in a group with a guy like that. I didnt even realize it until after the game." Richards gave up four hits and walked none in eight innings. Of his first 35 pitches, 32 were strikes. Joe Smith struck out one in a hitless ninth. Erick Aybar had two doubles and an RBI and David Freese doubled and drove in a run for the Angels. Jarred Cosart (4-5) allowed eight hits and three runs and tied a career-high with eight strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings. Dexter Fowler had two hits for the Astros, but no one else could get anything going against Richards. Heralded prospect Jon Singleton went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his second major league game after homering in his debut on Tuesday night. Fowlers ground-rule double led things off for the Astros, but Richards retired the next eight batters. Fowler singled with two outs in the third but Jose Altuve grounded into a force out to end the inning. Richard located his pitches well all night, but his control was impeccable early in the game. "Garrett was ready," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I dont know if it was based on the last outing which was obviously tough for him. He just showed great command with all his pitches." Houston manager Bo Porter was impressed. "(He) had electric stuff tonight from the very first pitch until he left the game in the eighth," he said. "He was throwing 95, 96 late in the game with a wipeout slider. That is what you call dominating stuff." Freese doubled with one out in the fifth and C.J. Cron put the Angels on top 1-0 with his RBI single with two outs. Aybar hit a one-out double in the sixth before Albert Pujols drew a walk. Howie Kendrick and Freese hit back to back singles with two outs to stretch the lead to 3-0. The Angels didnt get a hit until Albert Pujols singled with two outs in the fourth inning, but Cosart struck out Josh Hamilton for the third out. Hamilton played centre field on Wednesday night in his second game back from the disabled list with star Mike Trout out again with back problems. Collin Cowgill entered the game as a pinch-runner in the eighth and took over in centre field and Hamilton moved to left. Cowgill preserved the shutout by sprinting to make a catch on the track just before Tals Hill in centre field on a fly ball hit by George Springer for the last out in the eighth. Trout had an MRI on Wednesday and said it didnt reveal any damage. He has some inflammation in the middle of his back on the left side and hopes to return to the lineup on Thursday. Trout missed two games with stiffness in his upper back before starting Tuesday night in Houston. He left that game in the second inning because of his back problem. He said that he feels a lot better on Wednesday than he did when he left the game on Tuesday night. "If I dont feel it at all, Im going to play," he said. "If I feel it a little bit, I should just be smart about it." NOTES: The series wraps up on Thursday when Los Angeles LHP Tyler Skaggs opposes Brad Peacock. ... Houston SS Jonathan Villar was out of the lineup on Wednesday after being hit on the right elbow by a pitch the night before. X-rays were negative and he is day to day. Tony Phillips Jersey . Cox started the season with San Francisco, but was released by the team on Nov. 12 before being signed by Seattle, where he appeared in two games and tallied three tackles before being released on Dec. Joe Morgan Jersey . The 30-year-old Moore played in 13 games for the Saints last season, catching 37 balls for 457 yards and two touchdowns. http://www.athleticsrookiestore.com/Athletics-Dave-Henderson-Kids-Jersey/ . - The Mavericks built a 12-point lead with 2:50 to play, gave away all but two points of it, and still managed to hang on. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes have locked up their top off-season priority, signing goalie Mike Smith to a six-year deal that averages around $5.7 million per season. Smith and the Coyotes agreed to the deal over the weekend and received approval of the contract from the NHL on Monday. The 31-year-old Smith had mostly been a backup before leading the Coyotes to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 2011-12, his first season as Phoenixs No. 1 goalie. Smith was about to become a free agent and had been waiting for clarity on the Coyotes ownership situation before signing. The City of Glendale is set to vote on a lease agreement with Renaissance Sports & Entertainment on Tuesday, the last major hurdle in the groups attempt to buy the franchise from the NHL. "We are pleased to sign Mike to a multi-year contract," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a statement. "Mike has emerged as a top NHL goaltender with his size, athletic ability and strong work ethic. He is capable of leading us to a Stanley Cup championship, the goal of our franchise. This is an important signing for our Club." Smith signed with Phoenix in 2011 after spending the previous six seasons with Dallas and Tampa Bay. He was stellar in his first true shot at being a No. 1 goalie, winning 38 games with a 2.21 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and a franchise-record-tying eight shutouts. The Coyotes won their first division title in 33 years as an NHL franchise and went to the conference finals for the first time that season. Smith wasnt quitee as good in the final year of his contract, going 15-12-5 with a 2. Rickey Henderson Jersey. 58 goals-against average and a save percentage of .910 while fighting injuries during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Coyotes finished four points out of the Wests final playoff spot. He is 53-30-15 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.33 GAA in two seasons in Phoenix. His 13 career shutouts are fifth all-time in franchise history. Smith likely would have been one of the top goalies in the free agency market, but said his preference was to stay in Phoenix as long as there was clarity in the teams ownership. The NHL has agreed to sell the franchise to RSE, but the deal is contingent upon the group working out a lease agreement with Glendale for Jobing.com Arena. Tuesdays vote is still in doubt, leaving open the possibility that the franchise could be relocated -- the NHL has indicated that would be the likely next option -- but Smith decided to sign anyway. "Im thrilled to re-sign with the Coyotes," Smith said. "We have a great young team and an excellent coaching staff and management team. Ive really enjoyed playing in the Valley the past two seasons and this is where I wanted to stay." Even as the four-year ownership saga laboured on, the Coyotes have shown signs of stability over the past few weeks, signing Maloney, assistant GM Brad Treliving, coach Dave Tippett and his assistants in recent weeks. Phoenix also signed captain Shane Doan before the 2012-13 season and locked up young defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson with a long-term deal in March. Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap Yankees Jerseys Cheap Rays Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Athletics Jerseys Cheap Mariners Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys Cheap Phillies Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Pirates Jerseys Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Padres Jerseys ' ' '