ANAHEIM, Calif. _ The promotional theme for the night was the 1980s, complete with Photoshopped images of players on the video board.
Albert Pujols became Erik Estrada from the television show "Chips." Eric Young Jr. became Mr. T from the "A-Team." But the theme could have been a play off the show "Welcome Back, Kotter."
The Los Angeles Angels welcomed back Mike Trout. Rookie Taylor Ward welcomed himself to Angel Stadium. Martin Maldonado was welcomed back in a different uniform.
A 9-3 loss to the Houston Astros did not send the Angels back to the win column Friday, but the aforementioned names were the story.
Trout made an emotionally spiked return from a three-week absence, due largely to the death of his brother-in-law, Aaron Cox, and tripled off the first pitch he saw from Dallas Keuchel. Ward homered in his home debut to comprise the highlights for the Angels.
"It was cool. It was really cool," Angels starter Andrew Heaney said of Trout's return.
For Maldonado, it was the first time he had been in the visitors' locker room of Angel Stadium.
"It's weird to be on the other team," Maldonado said before the game.
Maldonado was traded, with Ian Kinsler, before the trade deadline. He spent fewer than two full seasons with the Angels, but Maldonado was well-liked in the clubhouse. He hugged former teammates before the game, and he received a warm reception in his first at-bat.
"I have friends that have always been there for me," said Maldonado, who singled in a run. "I enjoyed them. I hope they enjoyed me."
The Angels inched closer to enjoying having Shohei Ohtani back on the mound. He will throw a bullpen session Saturday and a simulated game is targeted for next week, manager Mike Scioscia said.
Ohtani has not pitched since he sprained his ulnar collateral ligament in June. He could return in September on a limited pitch count, especially when rosters expand and the team could back him up with a starter.
Ohtani pinch-hit in the eighth inning, with two on and two outs, and struck out against left-hander Tony Sipp. Houston put away the Angels on Marwin Gonzalez's second career grand slam in the fifth inning, a two-out shot to center field to tag Heaney with five runs. Heaney previously gave up three runs total in four career starts against the Astros.
"When he made mistakes tonight, it seemed like those guys were on it," Scioscia said. "But I think he pitched a little bit better than I think the five runs are going to show."
Jose Altuve put his stamp on the game in the third inning with a 417-foot home run and a clever play to let David Fletcher's flare fall on the infield grass to facilitate an inning-ending double play.
