Jon Singleton has been performing pretty well at first base for the Houston Astros this season and his three-hit day on Thursday was pivotal. Singleton’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie, leading the Astros to a 6-3 win over the Oakland A’s at Minute Maid Park.
Singleton totaled three hits for the Astros in support of starting pitcher Framber Valdez’s outing. Valdez struck out six, allowing five hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings of work. He kept Oakland hitters off-balance with a mixture of his curveball and slider. When Valdez is snapping those pitches off effectively, opposing hitters pretty much are left to mutter to themselves.
Clutch Offense Paces Houston Astros
Besides Singleton’s three-hit day, outfielder Jason Heyward smoked his first home run as an Astro in the second inning. Heyward took a Mitch Spence pitch that he tried getting on the inside third of home plate. Well, it didn’t pan out that way. Heyward, who signed with the Houston Astros after being released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, sent Spence’s pitch over the right-field wall for a 2-0 Astros lead.
With the Astros up 2-1, A’s slugger Brent Rooker homered off Astros reliever Ryan Pressly (2-3) in the eighth inning to tie things up at 2-2. Then, the Astros’ offense flexed its muscles in the nick of time. Yanier Diaz and Kyle Tucker, who had some of his best at-bats since coming back from the injured list, smacked back-to-back singles off A’s reliever T.J. McFarland (2-3). Grant Holman came on for Oakland and Singleton took one of his pitches to center field, scoring Diaz for a 3-2 Astros lead.
“He has contributed immensely,” Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said of Singleton’s play. “Big hits, he gives you a quality at-bat, finds the barrel, the ability to walk. Jon has done a really, really good job.”
Recently, Singleton has been having his time at first base cut down as Espada puts Diaz and others there, too. But Singleton, who has worked hard to establish a presence on the Astros after Jose Abreu was released earlier this season, isn’t pouting or crying about seeing his at-bats curtailed.
“You just got to go out there and do your job,” Singleton said, The Associated Press reported. “And I’m grateful whenever I get the opportunity for sure.”
Jake Meyers’ Double Pads Lead
Jake Meyers’ RBI double made it 4-2 Houston. After Heyward was intentionally walked, Mauricio Dubón‘s single scored two more runs to make it 6-2 Astros. Houston reliever Josh Hader came on to wrap it up in the ninth inning. He allowed a Tyler Nevin solo homer but shut the door on the Athletics.
The win kept the Houston Astros from getting swept by Oakland. It also kept them in the American League West Division lead, keeping some distance from the Seattle Mariners. Seattle played later on Thursday night.
On the injury front, second baseman Jose Altuve is being kept out of the lineup for a couple of days. Altuve left Wednesday night’s 5-4 loss after tweaking the right side of his body on a wild swing at the plate. At the time, Altuve stepped out and called Espada and head trainer Jeremiah Randall out to check on him. Altuve took another pitch and tried bunting for a hit, only to foul out on a third strike. He was not in Thursday’s lineup and isn’t expected back until sometime this weekend.
“He’s doing better,” Espada said on Thursday, MLB.com reported. “I thought he was going to come in and be more sore, especially after the way it looked yesterday. He’s day to day. He’s in the weight room throwing the med ball around trying to get the area loose. Hopefully, it’s something that he won’t miss a lot of time.”
Outfielder Chas McCormick was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a fracture below his right index finger. McCormick, who had just started swinging the bat better, ran into the right-field wall on Tuesday night.
“It’s really disappointing,” McCormick said. “I just want to be out there trying to help the team win, especially toward the end of the season and going into the playoffs. It’s a disappointing season overall and not the way I wanted it to happen because I have been feeling good. That’s crappy. I’m feeling like myself finally, and this happened. But I’ll be back.”
The Houston Astros made some roster moves, too. Infielder Grae Kessinger and left-handed pitcher Bryan King were recalled from the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Right-handed pitcher Nick Hernandez was sent down to Sugar Land.
The Astros headed out to Anaheim, Calif., after Thursday’s victory. On Friday night, Yusei Kikuchi (8-9, 4.31) starts for the Astros against Los Angeles Angels lefthander Samuel Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45).
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