O'BRIEN EXPLAINED THE DISAPPOINTING SECOND SEASON OF FOREMAN'S CAREER

O'Brien: Foreman issues not injury related

O'Brien: Foreman issues not injury related
D'Onta Foreman. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Bill O'Brien revealed Wednesday the lackluster return from an Achilles injury by second-year running back D'Onta Foreman was due to rust and a late-season return to the team, not lingering effects from injury.

"I think anytime you get injured your rookie year I think that's hard," O'Brien said. He characterized Foreman's rehab as a "tough" one coming back from the torn Achilles. He also said there were "ups and downs" with Foreman's rehab.

"He worked at the rehab but at the end of the day he just wasn't on schedule until the end of the year," O'Brien said. "So when he came on in the end of the year it was almost too late. He was rusty, hadn't played a lot of football."

There was serious concern about Foreman's ability to bounce back from the injury. A study in Foot and Ankle International deduced running backs see significant drop-off in their abilities and talent after an Achilles injury.

O'Brien didn't see that in Foreman. He said when Foreman returned, despite the poor production, he didn't see the big rollback in his skills.

"All of that was there," O'Brien said.

Despite the body being right Foreman managed to see action in just one game in the regular season rushing for negative one yards and catching two passes for 28 yards and one touchdown.

Foreman is heading into his third season with the team and O'Brien said it is a "big year" for Foreman and "he knows that" when it comes to the expectations for him. O'Brien had faith his third-year back would meet the challenge.

"I think he'll be ready to go."

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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