Solomon recalled to fill Bielak’s roster spot
The Astros on Saturday recalled reliever Peter Solomon from Class AAA Sugar Land to take the roster spot of reliever Brandon Bielak, who was optioned to Sugar Land following Friday’s 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
Solomon gives Houston much-needed bullpen flexibility after the club used eight relievers to cover 10 innings Friday, including a spot start from Bielak, who pitched 2 2⁄3 scoreless innings in his first start of the season.
Josh James and Yimi Garcia are the only healthy Astros relievers who did not appear in Friday’s series opener. Both are right-handed, as is Solomon, which still presents a challenge against an Arizona roster loaded with lefthanded hitters.
Houston’s only lefthanded bullpen arms, Blake Taylor and Brooks Raley, threw 26 and 14 pitches in the opener.
The Diamondbacks started six left-handed hitters on Friday and eight in Saturday’s lineup against right-handed Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr.
Those matchups combined with the immense workload Astros relievers have carried over the last week or so necessitates deliberate management by skipper Dusty Baker and pitching coach Brent Strom.
“Well, it’s been a challenge over the last four or five days,” Baker said Saturday. “But we do have Lance going tonight and hopefully he can go deep into the game and take a little more pressure off our bullpen.
“But, you know, the guys are saying they’re ready to go. There’s a couple guys, probably, we got to stay away from, but all in all, most of the work depends on the starting pitcher.”
Solomon has made three major-leagues appearances this season, totaling three scoreless innings and 14 batters faced with three hits, and two strikeouts.
Ivey embarks on rehab assignment
Astros pitcher Tyler Ivey, who has not seen action since his May 21 MLB debut, began a minor league rehab assignment with the FCL Astros on Saturday.
Ivey started and pitched 4 2⁄3 innings against the Rangers at Globe Life Field in his major-league debut, and was optioned to Class AAA Sugar Land immediately after the game. He later admitted that he hid an elbow injury from the Astros in order to make his debut, and was placed on the 60-day injured list Aug. 2 with right elbow soreness. Ivey tossed two scoreless innings allowing one hit with three strikeouts.
Gonzalez, Peña power Skeeters
Norel Gonzalez had three hits, including a three-run home run, and Jeremy Peña added a solo shot as Sugar Land defeated Albuquerque 7-2 Saturday night at Constellation Field.
Odds and ends
Starter Framber Valdez played long toss in the outfield Saturday before throwing in the bullpen. The Astros will determine Sunday whether Valdez, who was scratched from his last scheduled start due to a cut on his left index finger, will pitch Monday vs. the Angels as planned. … Left fielder Michael Brantley (right knee discomfort) is cleared to resume baseball activities Sunday, manager Dusty Baker said.