Although the Houston Astros locked up three position players before Thursday’s trade deadline, shortstop Jeremy Pena may have been the team’s best addition this week.
That addition: Pena was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday. The Astros hope he’ll man the shortstop position on Saturday afternoon when they visit the Boston Red Sox for the second contest of a three-game series.
Pena started at shortstop and collected three of Houston’s seven hits during a 2-1 loss in 10 innings to Boston on Friday night. He came out of the game after batting in the 10th inning, with Pena saying his right hamstring cramped during each swing of his at-bat.
“I think I’ll play (Saturday),” he said. “Nothing is final yet. I don’t want to make a decision without taking it to the (coaching) staff, but how I feel right now I think I’ll be ready to go for (Saturday).”
Pena also said the rib injury that landed him on the injured list is no longer an issue.
“I felt like I could play my game with no fear whatsoever,” he said. “I feel like I could be aggressive. I don’t need to tone back. I felt like I could dive, get up and make a play.”
Pena’s return will allow the Astros to move Carlos Correa from shortstop to third base. Correa started at third on Friday night but played shortstop after Pena left the game in the 10th.
The Astros acquired Correa in a trade with Minnesota on Thursday.
“I’m going to be putting a lot of work in at third base and getting to know the position,” Correa said. “I grew accustomed to shortstop and it’s going to be a fun challenge.”
Boston prevailed Friday when rookie Roman Anthony delivered an RBI single that drove in Wilyer Abreu with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
“For me with a guy at third base there, I’m just fighting, doing everything I can to put the ball in play — and just try to make something happen,” Anthony said. “Good things happen when you put the ball in play, and I fought a few pitches there and got a good one to hit and didn’t miss it.”
The victory extended Boston’s winning streak to three games and halted Houston’s modest two-game run.
Boston manager Alex Cora said Fenway Park had a playoff atmosphere Friday night, when the Red Sox improved their home record to 35-21.
“They were into it every pitch the last two innings,” he said. “It’s Aug. 1, and they know it. And some of them love their team. Others like their team. But at the end of the day, this is what it’s all about, winning games and making this place uncomfortable. And I think they accomplished that tonight.
“A few years ago it was the yellow uniforms. Now it’s the green ones. Whatever it is, just make it fun again here, make it a madhouse. The louder the better. And I tip my hat to them because that was a fun atmosphere.”
Saturday’s pitching matchup will feature Houston left-hander Colton Gordon (4-3, 4.74 ERA) and Boston righty Walker Buehler (6-6, 5.72).
Gordon will face the Red Sox for the first time in his career, and Buehler is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three career starts against Houston.
–Field Level Media
