BREAKING NEWS FROM PATRICK CREIGHTON
Sources: Astros CF George Springer’s injury worse than reported; thumb is “unstable"
Aug 24, 2018, 3:45 am
The Astros may be without George Springer for a while. Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images
Astros CF George Springer’s thumb injury is much more serious than the team has let on.
Sources on Thursday informed me that Springer has ligament damage in his thumb, and that his thumb is “unstable.” They also indicated that this injury would normally have a much longer recovery timetable - 6-8 weeks on the shorter end. It has only been three weeks since Springer suffered the initial injury.
Springer appeared to be in a significant amount of pain when he injured his thumb on a head first slide on August 5th. He then missed the next eight games on the DL.
Springer returned to the lineup without going on a rehab stint, which was unusual. Jose Altuve played one game at Triple-A Fresno to get his timing back before rejoining the lineup.
Springer came off the DL and returned to the lineup on Aug. 17, playing in three games. He went a combined 3-of-13 with one run and one RBI. He did not start on Aug. 20th vs Seattle, although manager AJ Hinch said he was available to pinch hit. Springer has not played the last three games.
Patrick Creighton hosts “Late Hits” on ESPN 97.5 Houston weeknights 7-9p, and “Straight Heat” on SB Nation Radio weekdays 4-7p CT. Follow him on Twitter: @PCreighton1
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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.