UNSUNG HEROES
How 3 unlikely Astros players are doing heavy-lifting for Houston
May 22, 2023, 4:21 pm
How 3 unlikely Astros players are doing heavy-lifting for Houston
The Houston Astros have won four straight series and they're getting significant contributions from all over the roster.
Three under the radar names that really jump off the page and have been responsible for this recent run include Hunter Brown, Jake Meyers, and Martin Maldonado.
Jake Meyers had reached base in 9 consecutive plate appearances before making an out in the 8th inning.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 21, 2023
Meyers and Maldonado are swinging hot bats and playing their best ball of the season. Maldonado's batting average is finally up to .200 on the year. That may not sound like much, but it's a big deal for Maldy.
Martín Maldonado is hitting .268 (11-for-41) in May and is up to .200 for the season.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 21, 2023
So, despite some struggles from Jose Abreu and Alex Bregman, the team is finding ways to score enough runs and win ballgames.
Plus, we react to the latest injury update for Lance McCullers and project a realistic outlook for his 2023 season.
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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.