The Houston Astros welcomed back All-Star Kyle Tucker in the opener of an interleague series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, an 8-0 win highlighted by Yordan Alvarez blasting a pair of three-run homers.
After ending a three-game skid, the Astros will seek another victory on Saturday in the middle game of the three-game set.
Tucker finished 0-for-2 with a walk in his first action since fracturing his right shin on June 3, but the Astros were thrilled to have him back on the field.
“Kyle being in the lineup was a little bit extra flow of energy in the clubhouse,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We felt complete getting him back on the field. I thought that was important.”
Espada was coy when asked if Tucker would be in the lineup again on Saturday.
“We’ve still got a couple more weeks until the playoffs come around, so hopefully we just continue doing our thing and continue trying to win as many games as possible, get our names in there and go from there,” Espada said. “Hopefully, we just continue that run through the rest of the year.”
Tucker, who served as the designated hitter on Friday, acknowledged the process of his return to right field would be gradual. Still, the timing of Tucker rejoining his teammates, with the stretch run unfolding, qualifies as ideal.
“The guys were really excited, especially after not playing well in Cincinnati,” Espada said. “I thought that we came out ready to go. I thought Tucker kind of helped out.”
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (7-9, 4.24 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Saturday. Houston improved to 6-0 with Kikuchi on the mound after he allowed one run on five hits with 12 strikeouts over seven innings in a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 31.
Kikuchi is 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA since joining Houston at the trade deadline.
The 33-year-old veteran is 0-1 with a 5.75 ERA in four career starts against the Diamondbacks. He did not factor into the decision of an 8-7 win over Arizona when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 14. Kikuchi surrendered seven runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (2-1, 5.33 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Diamondbacks. Rodriguez took his first loss in five starts this season after allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout over four innings in an 11-6 setback to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
The Diamondbacks were unbeaten in his first four starts despite Rodriguez pitching to a 5.06 ERA during that stretch.
Rodriguez is 1-6 with a 7.38 ERA over 10 career starts against the Astros.
Arizona catcher Jose Herrera departed in the fifth inning of the Friday game after being struck on the top of his mask by Tucker’s bat during a backswing. Herrera remained on the ground for several minutes before leaving the field with team medical personnel. He subsequently passed the concussion protocol.
“He is doing OK,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He got through all of his testing just fine and we’ve actually got him in the lineup (Saturday). He was removed from the game strictly for precautionary reasons just to make sure that he was OK, (to) get through the protocol, which he did. So we’re in a good spot.”
–Field Level Media
