Don’t look now but Yuli, Houston Astros saga comes full circle
SPORTSMAP ROUNDTABLE
27 January 2023
SPORTSMAP ROUNDTABLE
With just a few days left in January, we still don't know where Yuli Gurriel will be playing this season. Reports indicated last week that the Astros offered Yuli a contract, but he was likely to take a more enticing deal with the Miami Marlins.
Yuli even started following the Marlins on social media, which had many fans thinking his days in an Astros uniform were over. But the deal with the Marlins seemingly fell apart, and reports are now indicating that the Astros and Twins might be where Yuli eventually lands.
Yuli Gurriel’s better hopes beyond the Marlins now might include Astros and Twins. He has likely supporters in both places (Dusty/Crane in Houston, Correa in Minnesota). Astros already signed Abreu but they could find some at-bats for Yuli.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 24, 2023
Be sure to check out the video above as we address the latest reports and share our thoughts on what the future holds for the Astros and Yuli Gurriel.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.