30 RBIs give Gattis team record for June
Evan Gattis drove in three runs in the Astros’ 7-6 comeback victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday to set a franchise record with 30 RBIs in June.
Jimmy Wynn in 1967 and Jose Cruz in 1984 shared the previous record of 29 RBIs for the month.
Gattis, who had a two-run double in the first and an RBI double in the fifth, did not find out about the record until a couple days ago.
“To be honest, I hadn’t paid attention to that as much as I have to making a good swing at a good pitch,” the designated hitter said.
Gattis has been the comeback story of the season for the Astros. He went from stockpiling innings on the bench to leading the team with 54 RBIs.
He has batted .329 with five doubles, seven homers, 28 RBIs and a 1.072 OPS in his last 20 games.
He downplayed his stellar stretch as just “one month,” with several to go.
“I’m glad things have turned around, given the way they started,” he said.
Hinch exercising caution with Correa
Astros shortstop Carlos Correa missed his second consecutive game with back stiffness on Wednesday, which manager A.J. Hinch described as a “day-to-day” injury.
“I'm going to be ultra careful and conservative with him,” Hinch said. “I'm not going to play him until I'm convinced that he’s not sore anymore.”
Correa’s soreness was so significant on Tuesday that Hinch wrote the lineup card before Correa arrived at Minute Maid Park.
Correa received treatment from the trainer, and for a second consecutive day, was unavailable to comment on his injury.
Hinch said the back stiffness is “unrelated” to the strained right side Correa suffered on a mid-June swing that required him to miss four games.
The Astros are in a stretch of 23 games in 24 days. Hinch often has spoken about giving players rest as the All-Star Break approaches.
Smith nearing rehab assignment
Righthanded reliever Joe Smith (elbow discomfort) threw a bullpen session before Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays. If all goes well, he will be sent on a rehab assignment this weekend, according to manager A.J. Hinch.
Smith has had a good attitude about the injury that has sidelined him since June 6. He has been patient and maintained his sense of humor, which Hinch used in discussing the veteran sidearmer’s recovery.
“He’s in the bullpen right now, and he’s going to throw all of his pitches,” Hinch said with a smirk. “All two of them, as he said.”
Top draftee Beer goes a level higher
It took Seth Beer less than two weeks to earn a promotion.
The Astros' first-round pick earlier this month was promoted from short-season Class A Tri-City to low-A Quad Cities on Wednesday.
In 11 games with Tri-City, Beer hit .293 (12-for-41) with four home runs, three doubles and seven RBIs. He also had six walks in putting up a 1.090 OPS.
At Tri-City, Beer started four games at first base and four games in left field.
The Astros took Beer, 21, with the No. 28 overall pick and signed him with a $2.25 million signing bonus on June 13.
The former Clemson All-American was the first freshman to win the Dick Howser Trophy, presented to the college baseball player of the year. In his final season at Clemson, Beer hit .301 with 22 home runs and 54 RBIs.