FINGERS CROSSED
How Jose Abreu's arrival could spark explosive Astros chain reaction
Jun 15, 2023, 5:54 pm
How Jose Abreu’s ARRIVAL could spark EXPLOSIVE Astros chain reaction
The Houston Astros have been waiting all season for free agent slugger Jose Abreu to provide the team with some power and run production.
After Wednesday night's performance, it looks like Abreu is taking off, based on his moon shot that went over the railroad tracks at the Juice Box.
Abreu currently has the second-most RBI's in the AL in the month of June, and his home runs are starting to happen in droves, with three in the last five games.
The timing couldn't be better, with Yordan Alvarez set to miss the next month with oblique discomfort. The Astros team OPS is also on the rise, begging the question. Can the Astros offense return to the Top 10 in OPS this season?
Plus, history tells us this isn't a fluke with Abreu. He turns it on in June almost every season. He's just two weeks late to the party in 2023.
Finally, can Abreu get hot enough to finish the season with an OPS of .700?
Don't miss the video above as we examine the recent power surge from Abreu.
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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.