OUT OF OPTIONS
How Astros wild circumstances just painted Dusty Baker into unexpected corner
Aug 15, 2023, 12:44 pm
How Astros wild circumstances just painted Dusty Baker into unexpected corner
If there's one thing we know about Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, it's that he likes to rely on his veteran players to get the job done. So much so, that perhaps he's been playing his older players like Jose Abreu too much, causing them to look sluggish and now injured in Jose's case.
Now the table is set for Jon Singleton to prove to Houston's manager that he can be relied on even when Abreu returns from injury. Whether Baker likes it or not, he's going to see what it looks like to have Singleton in the heart of the lineup instead of Abreu.
And based on Abreu's lingering back issue at age 36, this is the perfect opportunity to keep him fresh and keep Singleton sharp with regular at-bats. But will Dusty actually do it, or will he continue to run Abreu into the ground?
Be sure to watch the video above as we take the Singleton conversation to the next level.
Don't miss the Stone Cold 'Stros every Monday on YouTube!
Listen to ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM for Houston's best sports talk.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
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.