San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Righthander Urquidy records first career hit
SAN DIEGO — He did almost everything wrong, down to the giant “step in the bucket” outside the righthanded batter’s box.
José Urquidy’s swing looked like something from another sport. His hips flew open. His head turned away. His feet stayed flat while his arms extended out toward a two-seam fastball that tailed inside. Martín Maldonado’s bat head made contact.
“It’s frustrating, man,” shortstop Carlos Correa said with a smile. “You work so hard every single day in the cage to get one (hit) a day and he (goes toward) the third baseman and gets a hit the other way. Just like we wanted to.”
Physics and fate aligned for the most unexpected hit of Houston’s season. Urquidy had not collected a hit since his childhood. His first major league knock started a 6-3 win. He raced through first base and turned around to signal the dugout. He offered Maldonado’s signature shaka sign to the dugout, a favor to the catcher who lent him the bat.
The Astros welcomed a hit from anyone in their offense, even those not paid to produce them. They did not score for 19 straight innings during two losses in Seattle on Tuesday and Wednesday. Padres starter Jake Arrieta retired eight straight to start Friday’s game, stretching the streak to 212/3 innings and putting pressure on Urquidy during his anticipated return.
A recurrence of right shoulder soreness sidelined Urquidy from major league action for 67 days. He drew a daunting first assignment back. The first three hitters he saw? Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth. Four of his first five offerings missed the strike zone, and Tatis walked to first base.
Urquidy responded with 11 straight strikes to strand him and settle in. Machado and Wil Myers struck out against superb sliders. Urquidy generated nine swings on the 15 sliders he threw. Five of them were whiffs.
“Like he always does, he throws strikes, but what encouraged me more than anything was the sharpness of his breaking ball,” manager Dusty Baker said. “He had a real good breaking ball. I don’t think he threw many changeups, but he showed good command and good poise.”
Friday featured all of what the Astros have come to expect from their 26year-old righthander. Urquidy filled the strike zone and thrived on his hoppy, four-seam fastball. Urquidy’s slider fared well against a San Diego lineup stacked with menacing righthanded hitters. He showed a spike in velocity on all four of his pitches, including a 2.5 mph jump on his slider. The 95.9 mph four-seam fastball he threw Tatis in the first inning is his hardest pitch of the season.
“I feel really good,” Urquidy said. “I feel stronger than I did before.”
The Astros had Urquidy on an 80-pitch count. Baker pulled him after 71, before Tatis could get a third look at him during the fifth. Reliever Yimi Garcia retired Tatis and Machado to strand the tying run at third base.
“I think that was a good decision of the manager, that was a hard inning for me,” Urquidy said. “The relievers had my back and did a good job. But for it being the first outing after my injury, it was good decision right there.”
The Astros will gradually push Urquidy back into a role without a governor. They must maintain caution, especially as the playoffs near. A performance like Friday’s puts Urquidy in firm discussion for a spot in Houston’s postseason rotation. At the very least, he will earn a place in the bullpen. Perhaps a pinch-hit opportunity is in the cards.
“He’s been working on it,” Baker said.
Urquidy spoiled five of Arrieta’s two-strike pitches foul before striking out in the fifth. The fruits of Urquidy’s labor laid bare two frames earlier. Houston remained without a hit against Arrieta. He fell behind his fellow starter 3-0 before grooving a hittable sinker at the top of the strike zone. Urquidy did not swing. He wagged the bat overhead in anticipation of the 3-1 pitch. Arrieta repeated his choice.
Falling toward his own dugout, Urquidy struck the single the other way. It had a 90.7 mph exit velocity. Statcast handed it a .500 expected batting average. It evaded Eric Hosmer’s dive, but bounced straight to the strong-armed Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field. Urquidy had to hustle to avoid a throw. Arrieta rushed over to cover first base in hopes of an out.
Tatis did not retrieve the baseball in time. Urquidy ran through safely. Houston’s dugout erupted. Teammates made sure to collect the baseball as a souvenir. Urquidy said he will give it to his mother.
“I’m never going to forget that moment,” Urquidy said.