
Dana Brown is the new Astros GM. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
After a lengthy search, the Houston Astros announced on Thursday that they have hired a new GM to replace James Click.
Longtime baseball executive Dana Brown has been hired as the Astros new General Manager, Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane announced today. pic.twitter.com/sGt2Kqj0do
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 26, 2023
The Astros hired former Braves VP of Scouting, Dana Brown. Brown has made a name for himself as a top-notch talent evaluator, recently drafting Spencer Strider (2020) in the fourth round and Michael Harris (2019) in the third. Harris was the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year, with Strider finishing in second place.
Houston #Astros GM Dana Brown joins #WhiteSox vice president Ken Williams as the only Black executives in charge of baseball operations.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 26, 2023
Bob Nightengale is reporting that the job came down to Brown and former Astro, Brad Ausmus.
The runner-up for the Houston #Astros GM job:
Brad Ausmus
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 26, 2023
Now the Astros are set to get the 2023 season started with their new GM in place, and pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in mid-February.
Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paddack (2-6) tied career highs by allowing 12 hits and nine runs — eight earned — in just four innings for his third straight loss.
Houston rookie starter Colton Gordon (2-1) gave up six hits and two runs with five strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Jeremy Peña tied a season-high with four hits and rookie Cam Smith had two hits and two RBIs as the AL West-leading Astros won their third straight.
Willi Castro, Royce Lewis and Ty France all hit solo homers for the Twins, who were blown out for the third time in four games after losing to Texas 16-4 Tuesday and 16-3 Thursday.
Lewis, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain, pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner. There was no immediate word on his injury.
The Astros got to work early in this one. The bases were loaded with two outs in the first when Smith hit a two-run single to center field to make it 2-0. Melton followed with a single to right field to drive in another run.
There were runners on first and third with one out in the second when Altuve’s double scored two to make it 5-0.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the third but Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat.
Melton hit a two-run triple with no outs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 7-0. A sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón made it 8-0.
The Twins got on the board with Castro’s two-out homer in the fourth inning.
Altuve homered to left-center to start the bottom of the inning and make it 9-1.
Key moment
Smith’s two-RBI single in the first that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
The Astros had four doubles to give them 15 in their last three games.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.96) on Saturday.