Here’s why the latest Astros noise is being framed a certain way
HE'S NOT ALONE
16 May 2023
HE'S NOT ALONE
A lot has been made of the Houston Astros' offseason moves as several of them have not panned out so far, and the team made these signings without a general manager in place.
While Michael Brantley could return from injury at some point this year, clearly he was not ready to start the season as the team projected, and the signings of Rafael Montero and Jose Abreu look like huge mistakes at the quarter pole of the season.
So who deserves the most blame for these missteps? Jeff Bagwell has taken most of the heat, as he was the face of the Abreu signing and was reportedly being considered for the GM position, along with Brad Ausmus, before the Astros hired Dana Brown.
But he's not alone in this.
Don't miss the video above as we examine what role Jim Crane played in the signings after firing his GM and discuss how Dusty Baker's influence factors in.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.