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Day in photos: Astros prepare for Angels
Here are some photos from Friday’s pregame in Anaheim:
Carlos Pena
Bo Porter signs.
Jose Altuve flips a baseball to a fan.
Jason Castro signs.
Jose Altuve signs.
Geoff Blum is still popular with fans. Here he flips an autographed card back.
Carlos Pena and Rick Ankiel
High knees for Altuve
Matt Dominguez, Justin Maxwell and Jason Castro warm up.
Marwin Gonzalez signs.
Bullpen catcher Jeff Murphy and Albert Pujols.
Bo Porter and Mike Scioscia
Bo Porter pretends to interview CSN Houston’s Julia Morales.
Dennis Martinez and Mike Scioscia, who was with the Dodgers when El Presidente tossed his perfect game against them in 1991.
Astros open series tonight against Angels
The Astros will try for their third win in a row tonight when they make their first trip to Angels Stadium as a member of the American League West, taking on the struggling, high-dollar Angels. They’ll send Bud Norris, who struggled on the road last year, to the mound in the series opener Friday night. Be sure to follow all the action on GameDay.
For the Astros, it will be their first look at Mike Trout, the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year, and will mark a reunion with nemesis Albert Pujols, the former Cardinals player who is a career .311 hitter with 32 RBIs and 112 RBIs in his career against Houston.
This weekend’s matchups mark just the third series between the two franchises and the first since the 2007 season. In the previous two matchups, both teams won their home series 2-1, which included a three-gamer in Anaheim in 2007 and a three-gamer in Houston in 2004.
Here is the Astros’ lineup:
2B Jose Altuve
CF Justin Maxwell
C Jason Castro
DH Chris Carter
1B Carlos Pena
LF J.D. Martinez
RF Rick Ankiel
3B Matt Domginuez
SS Marwin Gonzalez.
Porter gives Wallace the day off
Astros manager Bo Porter gave struggling first baseman Brett Wallace the day off Wednesday after he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts during the team’s 22-hit outburst on Tuesday. Wallace is 1-for-21 this season with 17 strikeouts.
“Sometimes you need to take a step back,” Porter said. “You can be trying so hard with extra work and video and reading game reports and over-analyzing each and every at-bat to where you probably need to take a step back. We’re going to give him the day off, we have an off day on Thursday, and Friday send him back in there. I think the results are going to be in a more positive light for Brett.”
Wallace singled in his second at-bat of the season March 31 against the Rangers, but has gone 0-for-19 since with 16 strikeouts.
“I think the thing that’s kind of crazy is swing-wise, I feel pretty good and my swing feels like it’s not that far off,” he said. “It’s just timing and contact point adjustments that need to be made. I think that’s one of the things you just have to keep your head down and keep working, and the more at-bats you get, you see the ball travel and let it get a little deeper and go from there.”
Lineups for Astros-Mariners
The Astros will try to win their first series of the season tonight at Safeco Field. Coming off a smashing offensive performance Tuesday in which they posted 16 runs and 22 hits in a 16-9 win, the Astros will send right-hander Brad Peacock to the mound in his second start of the season. Be sure to follow along with GameDay for all the stats and play-by-play.
A win tonight would give the Astros their first series win of the season and their third consecutive series win over the Mariners (also, 2007, 2004).
The Astros offense Tuesday night produced many franchise team notes:
• 22 hits: last, 8/3/10 at STL (22H)
• 16 runs: last, 8/3/10 at STL (18R)
• 5 homers: last, 9/16/09 at CIN (5HR)
• 40 total bases: last, 9/9/00 at CHC (44TB)
• 6 runs in inning: last, 9/10/11 at WSH (3rd, 6R)
• 6 runs in 1st inning: last, 8/30/08 vs. STL (8R)
• 7 hits in inning: last, 9/10/11 at WSH (3rd, 7H)
• 7 hits in 1st inning: last, 7/19/10 at CHC (7H)
There were also several Astros set or tied their career highs:
• Altuve ties career high w/ 4 hits (6/5/12 vs. STL)
• Altuve records career high 4 RBI
• Carter records career high 4 hits
• Carter ties career high w/ 3 RBI (7/25/12 at TOR)
• Carter records career high 2 HR
• Gonzalez ties career high w/ 3 hits (4/29/12 vs. PIT)
Here are the lineups:
|
April 10, 2013 – Safeco Field (9:10 p.m.) |
||||||
|
Seattle Mariners (4-5) |
Houston Astros (2-6) |
|||||
|
No. |
Player | Pos. |
No. |
Player | Pos. | |
|
55 |
Michael Saunders (L) | RF |
27 |
Jose Altuve | 2B | |
|
21 |
Franklin Gutierrez | CF |
44 |
Justin Maxwell | CF | |
|
8 |
Kendrys Morales (S) | DH |
15 |
Jason Castro (L) | C | |
|
28 |
Raul Ibañez (L) | LF |
23 |
Chris Carter | DH | |
|
15 |
Kyle Seager (L) | 3B |
12 |
Carlos Peña (L) | 1B | |
|
17 |
Justin Smoak (S) | 1B |
14 |
J.D. Martinez | LF | |
|
13 |
Dustin Ackley (L) | 2B |
28 |
Rick Ankiel (L) | RF | |
|
7 |
Kelly Shoppach | C |
30 |
Matt Dominguez | 3B | |
|
26 |
Brendan Ryan | SS |
9 |
Marwin Gonzalez (S) | SS | |
|
Starting Pitcher |
Starting Pitcher |
|||||
|
49 |
Blake Beavan | RHP |
43 |
Brad Peacock | RHP | |
Mallee says Astros have to be more selective
John Mallee, Houston’s first-year hitting coach, said the hitters were more patient during Spring Training than they have been in the first week of the regular season.
“We had a pretty good Opening Night, but our strikeouts are up and I think it’s because we’re chasing a lot early in the count,” Mallee said. “We’re trying to be more selective now and get better pitches to drive early in the count. I think in the spring we did a really good job of being a little more patient, being ready to hit from the first pitch on, but being selective enough to watch for a pitch we can drive. I think we’re getting a little anxious to try to swing our way out of it and started expanding the zone.”
The Astros have lost six games in a row following an Opening Night win over the Rangers, including three by shutout, and are hitting .188 in that span. They’ve struck out 82 times in seven games, whiffing 13 or more five times a game.
“They’re really good hitters, and sometimes we start to press a little bit,” Mallee said. “We haven’t scored a lot of runs and we try to create those runs by being ultra aggressive. So we need to tone it back a little bit and try to get a better pitch to hit. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to attack early in the count, it’s just making sure we’re attacking the right pitches early in the count.”
Martinez in lineup, ready to move forward
Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez, who was pulled from Monday’s game following his fourth inning at-bat by manager Bo Porter, was back in the lineup Tuesday against the Mariners, starting in right field. Martinez was pulled for what he deemed a “mental mistake,” and the outfielder said he and the manager had a good talk.
Martinez swung at the first pitch in his fourth inning at-bat and popped out, perhaps chasing a pitch out of the strike zone.
“Like I said yesterday to you guys, I understood the situation and we talked about it and put it behind us,” Martinez said. “We still have a lot more games left to play and it’s behind us and we’re ready to move forward. Today’s a new day.
“We settled it and [Porter] said, ‘You’re back in there today because it’s behind us. Time to move forward.’”
The Astros have lost six games in a row following an Opening Night win over the Rangers and are hitting .188 in that span. They’ve struck out 82 times in seven games, whiffing 13 or more five times a game.
“I feel like there’s a little bit of tension in the room,” Martinez said. “You want to win, you want everything perfect. I think it’s just go out there and play baseball, play for each other. They always say, ‘Play for the guy behind you,’ just going out there and enjoying it and having fun and getting the pressure and monkey off our backs.”
Martinez said one good game on offense could get the Astros rolling.
“Every game starts off great and then one things leads to another and then before you know it we have that pressure right back on us again,” he said. “Once we get that pressure off, we’re going to see this team start rolling because now everybody knows the guy behind you is going to pick you up. Now you don’t have that pressure on yourself. You can play and hit and do what you have to do.”
Astros try to snap 6-game streak against Mariners
The Astros will send former Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard to the mound tonight at 9:10 p.m. CT to try to break their six-game losing streak. Seattle starts right-hander Brandon Maurer. Here’s manager Bo Porter’s lineup, which includes the return of J.D. Martinez. He started in left field Monday but was pulled in the seventh inning by Porter for what Martinez called a “mental error.”
|
Seattle Mariners (4-4) |
Houston Astros (1-6) |
|||||
|
No. |
Player | Pos. |
No. |
Player | Pos. | |
|
21 |
Franklin Gutierrez | CF |
27 |
Jose Altuve | 2B | |
|
55 |
Michael Saunders (L) | RF |
44 |
Justin Maxwell | CF | |
|
8 |
Kendrys Morales (S) | DH |
15 |
Jason Castro (L) | C | |
|
38 |
Michael Morse | LF |
23 |
Chris Carter | LF | |
|
17 |
Justin Smoak (S) | 1B |
12 |
Carlos Peña (L) | DH | |
|
63 |
Jesus Montero | C |
14 |
J.D. Martinez | RF | |
|
13 |
Dustin Ackley (L) | 2B |
29 |
Brett Wallace (L) | 1B | |
|
3 |
Robert Andino | 3B |
30 |
Matt Dominguez | 3B | |
|
26 |
Brendan Ryan | SS |
9 |
Marwin Gonzalez (S) | SS | |
|
Starting Pitcher |
|
Starting Pitcher |
||||
|
37 |
Brandon Maurer | RHP |
45 |
Erik Bedard | LHP | |
News and notes:
- Astros starters have performed well this season and have limited the competition to three earned runs or fewer in six of the club’s seven games. RHP Philip Humber leads the staff in inning pitched (11 2/3) and ERA (3.09), RHP Bud Norris leads the club in strikeouts (nine), while RHP Brad Peacock has allowed just a .188 opponent’s batting average this season.
- Astros starting pitchers have received a win or a loss in all seven games this season. The last time Astros starters received a decision in at least the club’s first seven games of a season was in 1989, when Mike Scott, Bob Knepper, Jim Deshaies, Rick Rhoden and Jim Clancy each received a decision in the first eight games of that season.
Porter yanks Martinez for ‘mental mistake’
Astros manager Bo Porter pulled starting left-fielder J.D. Martinez in the middle of the fourth inning Monday night for what Martinez later admitted to be a mental mistake during his at-bat in the top of the inning, a pop out to second base.
Porter was asked following the Astros’ 3-0 loss to the Mariners if Martinez, who was hitting clean-up for the first time this year, had been injured, and he told reporters to ask Martinez what happened.
“That was a manager’s decision,” Porter said. “You go ask him why he didn’t finish the game. I’m actually interested in what he’s going to tell you.”
Martinez admitted to making a mistake during the at-bat, but wouldn’t go much beyond that. He swung at a first-pitch fastball from Joe Saunders and popped out after striking out looking in the first inning. Designated hitter Chris Carter swung at the first pitch the at-bat prior to Martinez, too.
“From a baseball standpoint, I made a mistake today,” Martinez said. “I had a mental error going up to the plate and was totally my fault. I understand everything what Bo did, taking me out and everything. I hold nothing against him in that sense because what I did was unacceptable and it was just a mental mistake that will never happen again.”
Martinez hinted went against the approach that was discussed at the hitter’s meeting prior to the game.
“It was just something going up to the plate, our plan and everything,” he said. “I got caught in the moment and really didn’t take a step back. The game was moving quick and I totally slipped, and I take full responsibility for it.”
Martinez has no problem with how Porter handled the situation.
“I completely get it,” he said. “I don’t want it to come off as me being selfish and not being about the team. That’s not what my intentions were. You just get caught up in the game sometimes and you want to go up there and you want to hit so bad and your plan sometimes just flies out the window.”
Humber returns to Safeco Field
Greetings from Seattle, where it’s gray and cold and there’s a Starbucks on nearly every corner. Welcome to life in the American League West.
The Astros make their first trip to Safeco Field as a member of the AL when they begin a three-game series against the Mariners beginning at 9:10 p.m. CT tonight. Philip Humber starts for Houston, which marks his first time on the mound at Safeco since he threw a perfect game there for the White Sox nearly a year ago.
Earlier today, the Astros made a roster move when they placed pitcher Josh Fields on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain and called up right-hander Paul Clemens from Triple-A Oklahoma City for his Major League debut.
|
April 8, 2013 – Safeco Field (9:10 p.m.) |
||||||
|
Seattle Mariners (3-4) |
Houston Astros (1-5) |
|||||
|
No. |
Player | Pos. |
No. |
Player | Pos. | |
|
55 |
Michael Saunders (L) | RF |
27 |
Jose Altuve | 2B | |
|
21 |
Franklin Gutierrez | CF |
44 |
Justin Maxwell | CF | |
|
8 |
Kendrys Morales (S) | DH |
23 |
Chris Carter | DH | |
|
38 |
Michael Morse | LF |
14 |
J.D. Martinez | LF | |
|
15 |
Kyle Seager (L) | 3B |
12 |
Carlos Peña (L) | 1B | |
|
17 |
Justin Smoak (S) | 1B |
30 |
Matt Dominguez | 3B | |
|
63 |
Jesus Montero | C |
15 |
Jason Castro (L) | C | |
|
13 |
Dustin Ackley (L) | 2B |
2 |
Brandon Barnes | RF | |
|
26 |
Brendan Ryan | SS |
13 |
Ronny Cedeño | SS | |
|
Starting Pitcher |
Starting Pitcher |
|||||
|
23 |
Joe Saunders | LHP |
59 |
Philip Humber | RHP | |
Fields to DL, Clemens called up
The Astros placed right-handed pitcher Josh Fields on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a right forearm strain and recalled right-hander Paul Clemens from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Fields’ stint on the disabled list is retroactive to April 4.
Clemens, who will wear No. 56, joined the team in Seattle, where the Astros will open a three-game series against the Mariners. He made one start this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing seven hits and three earned runs Friday at Memphis.
Clemens has been a starter for much of his career, and general manager Jeff Luhnow said the front office is split on whether his future is in the rotation or the bullpen. But he pitched in relief during Spring Training and performed well, striking out the side against Washington on March 7.
“That’s one of the reasons he got the call and not [Jordan] Lyles,” Luhnow said. “He’s been able to do the relief thing very well in Spring Training because he’s got absolutely dominant, powerful stuff. This is an opportunity for him to come up while Fields is out and show us what he can do in a big league bullpen. It doesn’t mean he won’t go back to being a starter, but right now, given the role we need, he’s the right guy and he deserves it.”
Fields was taken by the Astros with the No. 1 overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft last December and has appeared in two games, recording one out both Tuesday and Wednesday against the Rangers. Luhnow doesn’t think Fields will be on the shelf too long.
“During the spring, we cautiously brought him along and he felt just a little something after his second outing [Wednesday],” he said. “We were hoping it would go away, but it hasn’t and we don’t expect it to be anything significant, but I feel like it’s better to take some time off and rehab.”
Fields is the second Astros pitcher to go on the disabled list in three days. The club placed newly acquired left-hander Travis Blackley on the disabled list Saturday with a left shoulder strain, just two days after he was acquired in a trade with Oakland.
Clemens was one of four players acquired by the Astros from the Braves in 2011 in exchange for outfielder Michael Bourn. The team also acquired right-handed pitcher Juan Abreu, left-hander Brett Oberholtzer and outfielder Jordan Schafer in exchange for Bourn, but only Clemens and Oberholtzer remain in the organization.
Brian McTaggart
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