HOUSTON -- The challenge of filling the void created by perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout succumbing to injury cannot be overstated, so credit Eric Young Jr. for making a sincere effort to help keep the Los Angeles Angels' offense productive.

Young hit a decisive three-run homer that capped a six-run, fifth-inning outburst, helping lift the Angels to a 12-6 victory in the rubber match of a three-game series with the Houston Astros on Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

The Angels (33-33) handed the Astros (44-20) only their fourth series loss this season and first by a team outside the American League Central. They did so by mounting a stunning response against two Houston pitchers immediately after Houston secured a 6-4 lead with a clutch, two-out rally a half-inning earlier.

Young delivered the biggest blow, snapping a 6-6 tie by depositing a hanging slider from Astros right-hander Michael Feliz (2-1) into the right field seats.

"It's hard to replace a guy like (Trout). He's an MVP, multiple MVPs for a reason," Young said. "I think I just focus on being myself and what I bring to the table and have fun while I'm out there. Let the front office and everybody else worry about the stuff I can't control, and the things I can control is my attitude, how I prepare myself and get myself ready between the lines."

Feliz previously surrendered an RBI single to Luis Valbuena and a run-scoring double to C.J. Cron before Andrelton Simmons evened the score with his sacrifice fly to center field that scored Valbuena with the third run of the inning.

Cameron Maybin (2-for-4, two steals, three runs) and Kole Calhoun (2-for-4, three RBIs) ignited the fifth-inning surge against Astros starter David Paulino.

Albert Pujols started the scoring with a homer off Paulino with two outs in the first inning. Young, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Salt Lake when Trout landed on the disabled list on May 29, finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

"E.Y. is making the most of an opportunity," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's gotten some big hits, playing good defense whether he's in center or left, running the bases aggressively. He definitely fits with these guys, and he's playing great baseball."

Trailing 3-2, the Astros chased Angels right-hander Jesse Chavez when four consecutive batters reached base with two outs in the fourth inning.

Yuli Gurriel started the uprising with his seventh homer before Alex Bregman worked a walk after falling behind in the count 0-2. Norichika Aoki followed with an RBI double, with Josh Reddick and Jose Altuve later adding run-scoring singles.

Aoki added an opposite-field single in the sixth inning for his 2,000th career hit between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, earning automatic entry into the Meikyukai, an equivalent to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Once I got my 2,000th hit, it brought back memories of my very first professional hit," Aoki said. "It kind of made me look back, and the passion I have for baseball still hasn't changed."

Astros center fielder George Springer had the first hit for Houston with his 17th home run with two outs in the third. Springer and Bregman each scored twice.

Right-hander Keynan Middleton (1-0) posted his first career win for the Angels by pitching a scoreless fifth inning. He was the beneficiary of a Los Angeles outburst that followed one by the Astros that seemingly shifted momentum into the home dugout.

"We just didn't execute," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "I know that our bullpen's been taxed, our rotation has been challenged, but that doesn't really account for just not being able to execute. It's just baseball. They had a bigger inning than we did."

NOTES: Astros LF Norichika Aoki finished 3-for-4. He has 717 hits in the majors plus 1,284 from his playing days in his native Japan. He became the second Houston player to gain entry into the Meikyukai, joining Kazuo Matsui, who reached 2,000 hits on Aug. 15, 2009, in Milwaukee. ... Angels DH Albert Pujols hit his 10th home run of the season and 601st of his career, and he matched Frankie Frisch for 41st on the major league career hits list with 2,880. The RBI was the 1,862nd of Pujols' career, leaving him two behind Mel Ott for 10th place all time. ... Astros 2B Jose Altuve delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning for his 1,124th career hit, which ties him with Enos Cabell for 10th place in franchise history.