Ex-Giants, Cubs, Reds and Nationals boss to take over
Report: Astros to hire veteran Dusty Baker as new manager
Jan 28, 2020, 11:29 am
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According to reports, the Houston Astros are hiring Dusty Baker to take over the vacant Manager's position with the club. Baker replaces A.J. Hinch, who was suspended one year by the MLB in conclusion of its sign-stealing investigation before ultimately being fired by owner Jim Crane.
Baker last managed for the Washington Nationals in 2016-17, going 192-132 in those two regular seasons, which was enough to win the NL East both times. However, he and that Nationals team were unable to make it past the divisional round in either year.
Baker has vast managerial experience, dating back to his 10-year run with the Giants starting in 1993. His overall record in his career is 1863-1636 for a .532 winning percentage. He has fared worse in the playoffs, combining for a 23-32 record in postseason play across his four teams.
He has been to the World Series one time in 2002 with the Giants where they would lose in seven games to the Angels. Baker is seen as somewhat of a controversial person in the baseball world, having received scrutiny over his years for over-using pitchers and being at the helm during some of the most notable collapses. In that 2002 World Series, the Giants took a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 and a 5-0 lead into the seventh inning of that game before allowing six unanswered runs before ultimately losing the series in Game 7.
Baker now gets the opportunity to manage a team full of talent, but with the challenge of trying to overcome the attention and ire of many in the baseball world.
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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.