HOUSTON (Interstat) — In a seesaw series finale defined by late-inning drama, the Houston Astros rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 9-7 on Sunday at Daikin Park, earning a split of their four-game season-opening set.

A crowd of 30,848 watched as the Astros, after squandering an early four-run lead, mounted their decisive comeback against the Angels’ bullpen to even both teams’ records at 2-2.

The pivotal sequence began in the bottom of the eighth with the Angels clinging to a 7-6 lead. Pinch-hitter Cam Smith was hit by a pitch from reliever Drew Pomeranz, was bunted to second and advanced to third on a flyout. After an intentional walk to Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes delivered the critical blow, lacing a two-run double into right field to score Smith and Alvarez, giving Houston an 8-7 advantage.

Jose Altuve followed with an RBI double to center, plating pinch-runner Nick Allen to provide a crucial insurance run.

The Angels threatened in the ninth against Astros closer Bryan King. Walks to Adam Frazier and Mike Trout, the latter on a successful challenge that overturned a strike call, put the tying runs on base. Nolan Schanuel then hit an RBI single to right, scoring Frazier and moving Trout to third as the potential tying run. King, however, bore down, striking out Jorge Soler and Yoán Moncada looking to end the game and secure his first save.

The game’s most important part was unquestionably the bottom of the eighth inning. The Astros, facing their final six outs, transformed a one-run deficit into a two-run lead against the Angels’ late-game pitching. The inning featured a strategic hit-by-pitch, a productive out, an intentional walk, and the two decisive, well-struck extra-base hits from Paredes and Altuve that swung the game permanently in Houston’s favor.

The Astros had seized early control with a four-run second inning, capitalizing on shaky Angels command and a costly error. Christian Vázquez hit a two-run single, Alvarez added an RBI single and Paredes reached on a throwing error by Moncada that allowed a fourth run to score.

Los Angeles responded forcefully against Houston starter Tatsuya Imai. They erased the deficit and took the lead with a four-run third, highlighted by Jorge Soler’s three-run double. An inning later, Zach Neto launched a two-run homer to left field, extending the Angels’ lead to 7-4.

Houston chipped away in the fifth on Christian Walker’s two-run double, setting the stage for the late-game heroics.

The bullpens largely dictated the middle innings. Key performances included two scoreless innings each from the Angels’ Sam Bachman and the Astros’ AJ Blubaugh, who was credited with the win. Houston relievers Steven Okert and Christian Roa also contributed critical outs to keep the game close.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a low-scoring 2-1 Angels victory. However, the combined 16 runs easily surpassed the over/under line of 8.5, while Houston’s comeback covered the pregame spread of -1.5.

AJ Blubaugh earned the win for Houston, moving to 1-1. Drew Pomeranz took the loss for Los Angeles, falling to 0-1.

The Angels now travel to Chicago to begin a three-game series with the Cubs on Monday. The Astros will remain at home to open a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox, also on Monday.