
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.
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.