Pallilo Points
Charlie Pallilo: The time is right for Kyle Tucker and the Astros
Jul 9, 2018, 12:49 pm
Kyle Tucker got his first hit as an Astro on Saturday. Photo by Rich Schultz (left) and Bob Levey (right)/Getty Images
The Astros made a big move on Saturday when they called up star prospect Kyle Tucker from Triple-A Fresno and sent down Jake Marisnick. Tucker may take a while to get comfortable in the big leagues, and we've seen this type of thing before. Alex Bregman had a very slow start to his career in the majors, and it looks like he's turned into a very good player. In fact, Bregman was named to his first All-Star team over the weekend. Bregman will join four other Astros at the All-Star game including Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, George Springer, and Jose Aluve.
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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.