ASTROS SPRING TRAINING
How Astros hope to have exciting answer to a few lingering questions
Mar 15, 2021, 6:39 pm
As Houston Astros Spring Training kicks into gear, all eyes are on Yordan Alvarez. The 2019 Rookie of the Year hopes to rebound from an injury-plagued 2020 season. ESPN Houston's Charlie Pallilo explains how Yordan Alvarez can fill George Springer's shoes offensively.
In the above video we discuss:
- The loss of George Springer makes Yordan Alvarez all the more valuable to the offense. If Alvarez can repeat his production from his rookie season, he'll more than make up for Springer's departure.
- One of the big question marks is whether Alvarez can play defense or, with 2 questionable knees, whether the Astros would even want to use him in the outfield.
- Questions surrounding Yuli Gurriel could make Alvarez playing first an interesting option, but the position requires an incredible amount of skilled footwork and agility that Yordan has yet to show.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.