TORONTO -- Despite starting Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jays on the bench after exiting Monday with a hamstring cramp, Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña still made his way into Houston’s 9-7 extra-innings win.
Peña was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning on Monday, when his right hamstring cramped following a first-pitch swing. He immediately reached toward the area, extended his right leg and walked awkwardly following the swing.
Peña wasn’t all that concerned postgame, saying he thought it was “a minor thing” and “just a normal cramp.”
It wasn’t serious enough to stop him from working a walk for Taylor Trammell in the eighth on Tuesday and making a key defensive play to keep the winning run at third in the bottom of the 10th.
Manager Joe Espada said pregame that Peña would go through warmups and that he was hopeful the 28-year-old would be available off the bench.
That Peña completed his pregame activities and was able to enter was a good sign for the Astros, who already have 10 players on the injured list, including middle-infield options Carlos Correa, Nick Allen and Braden Shewmake.
Jose Altuve took over in Peña’s leadoff spot for the Astros against Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber, with Raynel Delgado getting the start at shortstop.
Peña went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases on Monday before he was removed mid-at-bat. He is now slashing .284/.346/.451 this season, with six homers and seven stolen bases, and he has been solid on defense in his 43 games.
The five-year veteran missed more than a month this season (April 13-May 18) with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with [the previous injury],” Peña said Monday. “It’s a long season, so [we want to] catch it early.”