Correa credits cage adjustment for hitting boom

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Carlos Correa banished a two-strike pitch over the left-field wall, his second home run of the game, and the Astros’ gregarious shortstop couldn’t help but smile as he rounded the bases. He reentered the dugout but not before dapping up Astros skipper Dusty Baker and yelling, “Let’s go!”

Correa went 2 for 5 with two home runs and four RBIs in Friday’s 13-1 win against the Blue Jays, a continuation of the resurgence he’s experienced over the last 18 games. In that span, he’s batting .344 (22 of 64) with six doubles, five home runs, 16 RBIs and a 1.160 OPS (.488 OBP/.672 SLG).

Correa attributed the boom to an adjustment he made in the cage during the last week of May at the suggestion of Astros hitting coaches Alex Cintron and Troy Snitker.

“I think before the Dodgers series, they came to me and said they thought I should ban the leg kick from the get-go,” Correa said. “I was kicking too high and it was getting me in a bad spot, so they told me to do a gather step. That’s why I’ve been like stepping before lifting the leg, and that’s keeping me a lot shorter, giving me more time to see the ball and drive it. And from the moment I did it, it started paying off.”

Correa went 9 for 26 during the Astros’ recent homestand against the Dodgers, Padres and Red Sox. He also drew 11 walks. After a rest day in the series finale against the Red Sox, Correa made a splashy

return to the lineup Friday against the Jays.

“Honestly, whatever he’s doing right now is what I think he needs to stick with,” center fielder Myles Straw said. “How he’s playing right now is how we need that guy throughout the whole year.”

Injuries and intermittent rest days caused the Astros to trot out piecemeal lineups the last few series, but Saturday’s lineup against the Jays resembled one closer to full strength. While the Astros are still missing Michael Brantley, who is targeting a return for the upcoming series in Boston, the heart of the order is for the most part intact.

That includes, of course, Correa,

whose veteran leadership and touch are most valuable when he is on the field. He strikes a delicate balance between holding his teammates accountable for mistakes and keeping the mood light.

After he hit his first home run Friday, a solo blast in the fifth inning, Correa contained himself only until he reached the dugout and locked eyes with Yordan Alvarez. The shortstop performed a jaunty jig reminiscent of a marionette puppet before he wrapped his arms around Alvarez in an exuberant embrace.

In the bottom of the same inning when starter Zack Greinke made an out at first base in the midst of pitching a complete game, Correa teasingly noted the pitcher’s lack of grace. He often holds his glove to his chest when Astros outfielders catch the ball, Straw said, and playfully chides them if they fail to make the throw straight to his chest.

The jabs are a natural part of Correa’s outgoing personality and close relationships with his teammates, but they can also recalibrate the atmosphere on the field during tense moments.

“At the end of the day it’s a game, you want them to have fun,” Correa said. “I did it the other day with (Luis) Garcia. It was a comebacker to him, he spiked the ball to Yuli (Gurriel), Yuli was there with the big out. I was like, ‘Explain to me how you can hit the corners every single time with every single pitch and you can’t even hit Yuli on the chest.’ He started laughing and then he kept going and I think he ended up going seven strong. I try to keep them loose, keep them happy, keep them enjoying the game.”

McCullers’ return remains unknown

Injured Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. remains likely to pitch a simulated game in Buffalo this weekend, manager Dusty Baker said Saturday.

McCullers went on the injured list May 23 with right shoulder soreness. In his last start against Texas on May 22, he tossed 105 pitches in five innings, yielding six hits, three runs and four walks while striking out seven in the Astros’ 8-4 loss.

There is still no timetable for the righthander’s return to a starting rotation that is becoming increasingly crowded. Baker had no further update on McCullers and injured catcher Jason Castro.

“They’re still progressing,” he said. “There’s no miracle medicine that that from one day to the next is going to make that much difference.”

Joshua Bessex / Associated Press Carlos Correa finished 3 for 4 in Saturday's loss to the Blue Jays. Friday, the shortstop was 2 for 5 with two home runs.