HOUSTON -- Max Stassi has always been a big bat with potential. On Monday, he showcased some of his power.

The Angels' catcher homered in the team¡¯s 8-3 loss at Houston, and if not for an outstanding catch by center fielder Jose Siri, the former Houston catcher might have collected two extra-base hits.

¡°He plays well, he¡¯s been playing well, he catches really well,¡± Angels manager Joe Maddon said. ¡°And over the last couple of years, he¡¯s become a much better hitter with power.

¡°What you saw tonight, we¡¯ve seen often -- a firm, established guy behind the plate for us where the pitchers can rely on him. But that¡¯s the typical game for Stassi you saw tonight.¡±

Stassi went 1-for-3 with a second-inning walk before making good contact in his next two at-bats against right-hander Luis Garcia at Minute Maid Park.

¡°One of them got caught and one went out,¡± Stassi said. ¡°It felt good.¡±

Stassi¡¯s sixth-inning home run drew the Angels to within a run at 4-3. That inning, the right-handed hitting Stassi took an offering from Garcia and re-directed the right-hander¡¯s fastball away down the right-field line, just hitting the foul pole.

¡°I just went with it,¡± said Stassi, who batted cleanup. ¡°Happy with the result.¡±

The home run ball stayed fair just long enough to become Stassi¡¯s second home run of the season.

¡°I thought it had a chance,¡± Stassi said.

His previous at-bat in the third inning looked promising when he first laid into the ball. But it resulted in a long out to end the third inning. It had extra bases written all over it before Siri ran the ball down in left-center field, making contact with the fence just after snaring the hard-hit ball, measured at 393 feet.

¡°I thought I got it pretty good,¡± Stassi said. ¡°I think I just hit it a little too high and it hung up there, and Siri made a good play on it. I was rounding first, and the crowd went crazy, but that was a great play.¡±

Siri¡¯s catch deprived Stassi of a hit and a potential RBI that would have broken a 2-2 tie.

Last season, Stassi achieved new career highs in hits (68), home runs (13) and RBIs (35).

The Angels' organization has noticed his upswing. In March, L.A. signed Stassi to a three-year contract extension through 2024 with a club option for 2025. The deal is worth $17.5 million. Stassi was going to be a free agent after the upcoming season.

¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m more at ease, it¡¯s just nice knowing I¡¯m going to be here for three years and hopefully more,¡± Stassi said. ¡°Such a great group of guys. They¡¯ve welcomed me here since Day One, and I absolutely love playing here for this organization.¡±