THERE'S A CATCH
Dusty Baker’s surprising statement raises questions about Astros prospect
May 3, 2023, 11:10 am
Dusty Baker’s surprising statement raises questions about Astros prospect
Prior to the start of the season, Yainer Diaz was expected to get a bump in playing time with Christian Vazquez leaving for Minnesota and Martin Maldonado in the last year of his deal at 36 years old.
But despite Maldonado's challenges at the plate (.162/.250/.235), and decline in defensive skills, Diaz has not been playing as much as expected. And he's not getting enough at-bats to make any reasonable conclusions about how he's progressing in MLB.
When manager Dusty Baker was asked about the distribution of playing time, he said it's been difficult to get enough opportunities for Diaz AND catcher César Salazar. And we shouldn't expect Maldonado's role to change until the schedule shifts.
Be sure to check out the video above as we lay out why these comments are so head-scratching.
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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.