Gonzalez expected to be activated Sunday
SAN DIEGO — Marwin Gonzalez emerged from the third-base dugout, took five steps backward and braced himself. Alex Bregman warned his former teammate of a change. Bregman’s warmup throws have some extra cut and movement now. A few tosses back-and-forth left Gonzalez well acclimated. The duo continued a pregame routine paused for parts of three seasons.
“I always kept in touch with them these few years,” Gonzalez said. “We are like brothers. It feels good to be back.”
Gonzalez arrived in San Diego before Saturday’s game against the Padres as part of Houston’s taxi squad. The team is expected to activate him before Sunday’s series finale, reuniting the utilityman with many longtime friends while affording him an audition for a possible postseason role.
“I’m hoping that I can go back to my form and try to make the adjustments I didn’t make at the beginning of the season,” Gonzalez said. “It was a tough season for me with the Red Sox, but I’m working hard and trying to get back to my form and trying to help the team any way I can.”
Gonzalez played a pivotal part in the 2017 World Series win, but has been a shell of himself since. He has a .687 major league OPS since the 2017 season, one in which the Astros electronically stole signs at Minute Maid Park. The Boston Red Sox designated him for assignment in August after he slashed .202/.281/.285 in 271 plate appearances.
Gonzalez had a careerbest .907 OPS and 146
OPS+ during the 2017 season. His ninth-inning home run against Kenley Jansen during Game 2 of the World Series remains one of the most clutch hits in franchise history.
“When I was on the other side of the field, I was alway conscious of where Marwin Gonzalez was in the lineup, where he was on the field, who might they pinch hit for and then move Marwin to that position,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “I was always conscious of where Marwin was.”
Slumping Altuve sits out Saturday
Mired in an ugly 4-for-37 funk that caused him to show outward frustration during Friday’s 6-3 win, Jose Altuve did not start Saturday’s game against the Padres.
“I just decided to give him off because he’s been struggling,” Baker said. “We all struggle from time to time, it’s just that he’s not used to struggling. When you’ve had the career this guy has had, struggle is something that never enters your mind or presents itself. I thought today would be a good day to give him off.”
Las Vegas edges Skeeters on HR
The Sugar Land Skeeters surrendered an eighth-inning go-ahead home run in a 4-3 loss to the Las Vegas Aviators on Saturday night at Constellation Field.
With righthander Chad Donato on the mound, Las Vegas’ Carlos Perez launched the go-ahead homer, a two-run shot to left field with one out in the eighth. Donato took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits through three innings of work.
Brett Conine had one of his finest outings of the season, striking out six batters over six scoreless innings of work. It matched his season high in both innings and strikeouts.