Astros center fielder George Springer is still nursing a sore right wrist, and he was out of the lineup for the second game in a row, Saturday's 3-1 loss to the A's in Oakland. Astros manager Dusty Baker said that Springer was available to pinch-run, but that he hasn’t progressed enough to hit.
Springer, the catalyst atop Houston’s lineup, made a diving catch while running forward to rob D-backs designated hitter Andy Young of a hit in the fifth inning of Thursday's loss at Chase Field. He came out of the game at the end of the seventh inning, and he hasn’t played since.
“He’s about the same,” Baker said. “I know he’s Superman, but he’s not ready. He was champing at the bit to pinch-run [Saturday], and he was ready to try to help the team do something, but he’s not playable. Especially against this guy throwing today [A’s right-hander Frankie Montas].”
With Springer out, Myles Straw started his second consecutive game in center field. He made a great leaping catch in the fifth inning to rob Sean Murphy of extra bases.
Brantley reaches milestone
In a celebration complete with balloons, ribbons and congratulatory signs, Astros players cheered veteran outfielder Michael Brantley for reaching 10 years of service time, an accomplishment only 6 percent of the nearly 20,000 players to play in the big leagues have done.
“First off, your goal is to make it to the Major Leagues,” Brantley said. “Once you get to the big leagues, it’s to establish yourself and obviously try to stay in this game as long as you can. Ten years is nothing to kind of sneeze at. It’s pretty hard to get in this club. There’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of great people who helped me get there.”
The celebration in the clubhouse prior to Saturday’s game was the brainchild of Astros outfielder Josh Reddick, who began this year with more than 9 years of service time.
“I got an adult beverage placed in my locker, and we had a little team meeting about it,” Brantley said. “I’m appreciative of my teammates, coaches, clubbies, everybody that’s helped been a part of this journey for me to get here.”
Brantley, who made his debut for Cleveland on Sept. 1, 2009, and is in his second year in Houston, began the season with 9 years, 131 days of service time. This year, because of the shortened season, players are earning 2.72 days of service time for every calendar day. Saturday marked Brantley’s 15th day of service (41st day under the '20 formula), giving him 10 years in and making him eligible for a full Major League pension.