One win, no save chances yet for Osuna
SAN FRANCISCO — The two-game series at AT&T Park suggests the Astros will somewhat ease Roberto Osuna back into major league competition.
After earning a victory on Monday with a five-pitch eighth inning preceding Marwin Gonzalez’s three-run, ninth-inning homer that gave the Astros a 3-1 win over the Giants, Osuna did not pitch in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory. Hector
Rondon, who threw 19 pitches in earning a save Monday, threw 22 to earn another save Tuesday.
On Monday night, Osuna warmed up in the first-base bullpen without much attention. And when he entered the game in the eighth and his name was announced, Osuna received no detectable reaction.
One or two scattered boos were audible but soon drowned out by pinch hitter Alen Hanson’s walk-up music. Osuna retired Hanson, Andrew
McCutchen and Buster Posey in order, keeping the Astros’ deficit at 1-0. All five of his pitches were strikes.
“It was really special coming back and feeling the mound again,” Osuna said after his first major league game since May 6. “I’m excited about being here with the Astros, and I’m going to do everything I can to help the team win.”
On May 8, Osuna — then a member of the Blue Jays — was alleged to have committed domestic violence against a woman. Major League Baseball levied a 75-game suspension for a violation of its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, which concluded Sunday, the day he was activated and joined the Astros in Los Angeles.
Osuna addressed reporters in Spanish on Sunday. Monday, after picking up his first win since July 27, 2017, he spoke in clear English to a group of five.
“I was really excited about today,” Osuna said. “I got the opportunity to pitch, I got the job done, and the most important thing was we won.”
Osuna spoke to his new teammates in the clubhouse before Sunday’s game at Dodger Stadium, and he and manager A.J. Hinch had a private meeting before that. Osuna spoke Monday with affinity for his new teammates.
“Being on such a great team with great teammates, it’s easy to forget about the stuff going on off the field,” Osuna said. “I really like my teammates. They’ve been treating me with a lot of respect, and I’m really comfortable.”
Hinch said Sunday that Osuna will have a lot of “firsts” to cross off — first appearance, first blown save, first booing on the road — and until they are crossed off, intrigue will remain.
One was crossed off Monday. “The first game back is always important,” Hinch said. “It’s the next step for him to get incorporated into our games. Obviously, coming away with a win put a good first impression on the field.”