Crowe, De Leon called up from Triple-A

HOUSTON -- Outfielder Trevor Crowe didn't waste any time sitting on the bench after being recalled by the Astros.

Houston manager Bo Porter inserted Crowe in Sunday's starting lineup against Seattle, batting him seventh and playing him in center field.

In Sunday's 2-0 win against the Mariners, Crowe went 2-for-4 and made a great running catch to take away a possible extra-base hit from Kendrys Morales in the second inning.

"It's good to get Trevor back," Porter said. "He's played really well at [Triple-A] Oklahoma City. It gives us flexibility with a guy who can switch-hit, play all three outfield positions. He got a lot of at-bats at OKC. At that point of the season it was good for him to get the extended playing time."

Crowe hit just .200 in 34 games with Houston earlier this season, being placed on the disabled list June 20 with a sprained joint in his right shoulder. He was optioned out Aug. 11.

He got a running start on his return to the Majors, being informed after Friday night's game in Oklahoma City that he was being called up and arriving Saturday in Houston. "I was able to get a good night's rest," he said.

"Obviously, I was very happy," he said. "I didn't know it was going to happen because the Oklahoma City team is in the playoff race. They have a really good team and they're going to make a run in the playoffs. To get this opportunity Sept. 1 is big for me."

Crowe wasn't shocked to be a starter right away.

"I've been around this game long enough, it's tough to surprise me," he said. "But I'm very happy I'm in the lineup."

Crowe hit .304 in 60 games this year in Triple-A.

"Just the consistency of the at-bats [helped]," he said. "Being able to get in a rhythm. There's no substitute for being in the lineup every day.

"This is an offensive league. At the end of the day, you've got to swing the bat, which I can do. I'm not worried about that. But that's the bottom line."

The Astros also recalled right-handed reliever Jorge De Leon, who had an 0.60 ERA in 12 games with Oklahoma City, striking out 12 in 15 innings.

De Leon said he was in the shower in the clubhouse at Oklahoma City when he was told to report to the office. He had been with the Astros for a week in August.

"I'm excited," he said. "I've been working hard. I'm better now. My slider is better, my changeup, too, my fastball command. I feel ready, I feel strong."

"We're going to use him in the bullpen," Porter said. "He can go multiple innings. He'll pitch some back-end innings. He'll also pitch some early innings as well."