HOUSTON — It was yet another example of what the Houston Astros look like when their lineup depth flashes Youth Corey Crawford Jersey , their fourth win in their final at-bat this season offering a glimpse of potential even when everything didn’t quite fall into place.
As the Astros (51-27) near the halfway point of the schedule on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, they recognize fully that they will require more wins like the one they recorded on Saturday to keep pace in the chase for the best record in the American League.
They were handcuffed by a scuffling pitcher for seven innings before the bottom third of their order helped complete a game-tying rally in the ninth.
And, while Houston failed to walk it off in the 11th, the bottom third of its order generated just enough traffic for the heavy hitters to come to bat in the 12th and secure the 4-3 victory.
Designated hitter Evan Gattis, batting seventh, produced the game-tying RBI with his sacrifice fly in the ninth inning following an 0-for-3 start to his evening. Marwin Gonzalez, batting eighth, walked in both of his final two plate appearances after recording three strikeouts against Royals starter Ian Kennedy. By churning out quality plate appearances, the job was easier up top.
“We’re at our best when those guys are doing something at the bottom,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “That takes a lot of pressure off the top of the order or the middle of the order to have to do it every time. That’s why we think we have a complete team.”
Right-hander Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.59 ERA) will start the series finale for the Astros in the rubber match. Cole did not factor into the decision in his last start, a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, after allowing four runs on three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
He made his lone start against the Royals on July 21, 2015, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 loss at Kauffman Stadium when he pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Right-hander Jason Hammel (2-8, 4.88 ERA) gets the starting nod for the Royals. Hammel is 2-2 with a 2.85 ERA over nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Astros Youth Chris Kunitz Jersey , including a 1.74 ERA over his last three starts. He hasn’t pitched at Minute Maid Park since 2014.
Hammel, who issued a season-high four walks in his previous outing, has issued two or fewer walks in 11 of 15 appearances this season and is tied for fifth in the American League with 37 starts with two or fewer walks since the start of 2017. His four walks against the Texas Rangers snapped a 37-start streak of walking three or few batters dating back to May 29, 2017.
After delivering at the plate and in the field for the Royals (23-53) in the opener, right fielder Rosell Herrera had a quiet night on Saturday, going 0-for-4 with a walk. Claimed off waivers from Cincinnati on June 2, Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Omaha last Sunday and has worked to show the defensive range and offensive versatility that could make him an asset as the Royals take extended looks at some of the younger players on their major league roster.
“He’s athletic, he’s fast,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Herrera. “He seems to swing the bat OK from both sides. It’s only been a week. There’s a lot to like looking at him on a short look.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the Manny Machado sweepstakes, getting the prized All-Star shortstop from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade Wednesday night.
The Orioles received five prospects: outfielder Yusniel Diaz, right-handers Dean Kremer and Zach Pop, and third basemen Rylan Bannon and Breyvic Valera.
Machado, a 26-year-old power hitter with extraordinary fielding skills, greatly improves the Dodgers’ chances of reaching the World Series for a second consecutive year. He led Baltimore in batting average (.315), home runs (24) and RBIs (65).
Machado is expected to be introduced in Milwaukee on Friday before the Dodgers open a series against the Brewers.
”We viewed Manny Machado as a big difference maker,” Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said.
The Dodgers are in a close race in the NL West Womens Kyle Palmieri Jersey , leading Arizona by a half-game going into the second half.
”Our first hope is we have a division-winning roster,” Zaidi said. ”Any time you have a chance to add an impact player in a tight division race that’s something you have to look at closely.”
Machado’s contract expires at the end of the season, and the last-place Orioles decided against negotiating an expensive, multi-year extension because they have too many holes as the team moves into a rebuilding mode.
”We tried to maintain a competitive club this year, and that’s why we resisted the offers we had in the offseason to trade Manny,” Dan Duquette, the Orioles’ executive vice president of baseball operations, said. ”But when it became obvious that it was time to look to the future, trading Manny is the first step in the plan to rebuild our ballclub.”
Asked if the Dodgers would re-sign Machado, Zaidi demurred.
”Let’s have him at least show up in a Dodger uniform before we start asking those questions,” he said. ”We hope he plays well and creates a good market for himself. We’re not worried about what happens past 2018.”
Though only a summer rental, Machado was coveted by a variety of contenders, including Philadelphia, Milwaukee, the Chicago Cubs and Arizona.
”We liked the depth of the Dodger package, we liked the quality of the players in the package and we liked Yusniel Diaz Brent Seabrook Jersey Kids , a player we feel is a gifted hitter,” Duquette said. ”We felt he was clearly the best player offered to us during this recent market. He was the key to the trade. But the other players in the trade are also very talented.”
The 21-year-old Diaz hit two home runs in the All-Star Futures Game last weekend. He’s hitting .314 with a .905 OPS with six homers, 30 RBIs and 36 runs scored this season.
Duquette said Valera will be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, and the other four players will be sent to Double-A Bowie.
Los Angeles gets a four-time AL All-Star with two Gold Gloves who has 129 homers over the last 3 seasons. Machado was drafted third overall by the Orioles in 2010, made his big league debut in 2012 and spent his entire major league career in Baltimore.
”Obviously, it’s a bittersweet day for our organization,” Duquette said. ”We watched Manny grow up in our franchise the past eight years. We all know what an exceptional talent he is, from the great plays that he made to his elite hitting. He’s always going to be a part of our important part of our club’s history.”
The Dodgers are filling a gaping hole at shortstop created by the loss of Corey Seager, who is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May.
And Machado moves from a cellar-dweller to a division-leading club in the middle of a pennant race. Not only that, but Machado likely gets to stay at shortstop, the position he manned this year after previously playing third base for Baltimore.
”I love playing short. I mean, I love it,” Machado said last week. ”I’m more excited playing shortstop than I’ve ever been. I’m more into the game. This is where I’ve always wanted to be, this is what brings the best player out of me.”
Zaidi said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has explained to Machado about how much the team values flexibility and versatility in playing different positions.
”Manny being flexible with that and being able to move between shortstop and third, we believe he can be an asset at both those positions,” Zaidi said. ”When JT (Justin Turner) is down Roberto Luongo Jersey , Manny’s ability and willingness to play third base on those occasions will be really important going forward. Everybody is sort of on the same page about that.”
Chris Taylor has been playing shortstop for the Dodgers, but his numbers are down from last season.
With Machado at short, the Dodgers could move Taylor to second instead of Logan Forsythe, offensive sensation Max Muncy to first, last year’s Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger to center and still have Enrique Hernandez available to play numerous infield and outfield positions.
The Dodgers still need to bolster their bullpen, which has been hit by a number of injuries.
”We’re going to continue to look for upgrades,” Zaidi said.
With a 28-69 record, the Orioles approach the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline in full selling mode for the first time in seven years. Machado might not be the only one leaving, either. Three other solid players in the final year of their contracts -outfielder Adam Jones, lefty Zach Britton and right-hander Brad Brach– could also be headed elsewhere.
”At this time of year, the competitors are looking for the veterans that have
been seasoned in pennant races, as have our players,” Duquette said.
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