Here are the 3 most important Houston Astros lessons learned so far in 2023
HARD LESSONS
12 May 2023
The Houston Astros received a lot of positive feedback in the offseason for their free agent acquisition of first baseman Jose Abreu. Many fans were disappointed to see Yuli Gurriel leave, but understood there was an opportunity to add some pop in the lineup by signing Abreu.
Houston also re-signed reliever Rafael Montero and outfielder Michael Brantley to bolster the roster. What do all these things have in common? All three of these moves occurred while the Astros were without a general manager after James Click was relieved of his duties.
So it's no surprise that many are lumping all these signings together because at this point in the season, none of these decisions have worked out. Abreu still isn't hitting and continues to be slotted in the cleanup spot by manager Dusty Baker. Montero has an ERA over six, and Michael Brantley is still dealing with a shoulder issue and hasn't played for the Astros.
Even at the time of these signings, many people did not feel like these were typical Astros moves. So is it fair to be critical of Astros ownership for these deals not working out? Or is it unfair to point the finger at the Astros when most fans and media loved the Abreu and Brantley signings when they took place?
Don't miss the video above as we address these tough questions.
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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.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
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.
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