Big play by Brantley helps preserve win
Michael Brantley does not smile often. When he does, it is cause for celebration around the Astros, a team that’s adopted Brantley as its cool uncle.
Brantley bounded from the field Saturday bearing a wide grin. Jose Altuve, mired in the worst season of his major league career, joined in the jubilation.
With the tying run at second and one out, Brantley caught a Jon Jay fly ball and threw a two-hopper to Altuve at second, catching runner Pavin Smith. The play helped save a game and — perhaps — ignited a fuse to enliven this teetering team.
Behind such a sorely needed spark from their most stoic force, the Astros defeated the Diamondbacks 3-2 on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.
“We wouldn't be where we are (without Brantley),” manager Dusty Baker said. “You need those kind of guys. This guy is a professional hitter, he’s a professional person, and he’s probably the leader of the team.”
Brooks Raley and Ryan Pressly fired a clean final two frames, pulling the Astros back to .500. The win prevented the A’s from clinching the American League West for one day.
Against another pedestrian pitcher, the Astros’ lineup remained largely lifeless, scoring fewer than four runs for the fourth straight game. Houston totaled six hits, four of them coming in the sixth inning against Arizona starter Luke Weaver.
Weaver came into Saturday with seven losses in his past 10 starts. His 6.70 ERA was fifth-worst among major league starters with at least 40 innings pitched. Opponents had 11 hits per nine innings against him.
For five frames, the Astros took no advantage. Josh Reddick’s third-inning single was their only hit before George Springer stepped up to start the fifth. Weaver offered him a first-pitch changeup.
Springer lofted the baseball into shallow center field. It found grass in the outfield.
Three of the next four Astros got hits. Altuve annihilated a double into the right center field gap and Springer scored from first base. Kyle Tucker cranked a single to left that scored Altuve, affording the Astros a one-run lead that the bullpen protected.
“We had momentum,” Brantley said. “So we want to keep that momentum going.”