Crowe supplants Paredes as starter in right field

HOUSTON -- Trevor Crowe has overtaken a struggling Jimmy Paredes as the starter in right field for the time being, Astros manager Bo Porter said Monday.

It's hardly a surprise, considering Crowe has started seven of the last nine games and Paredes is mired in an extended slump, with just one hit over 21 at-bats in June. After Monday's 4-2 loss to the White Sox, Paredes was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Crowe's .194 batting average isn't lighting the world on fire, either, but Porter said the switch-hitter's versatility is about more than his hitting.

"He does a great job and makes things happen," Porter said. "You look at the batting average, and I'm not a batting average guy. He's an above-average defender and gives us great flexibility because he's a switch-hitter. He's just a baseball player and understands the game. We'll continue to find opportunities for him."

Porter pointed to Crowe's second-inning at-bat during the Astros' 5-4 win over the White Sox on Sunday as an example of the 29-year-old's contributions to the team's recent winning ways.

Crowe fouled off four balls in a 10-pitch at-bat before drawing a walk to load the bases, which Matt Dominguez promptly cleared with a double to put the Astros up, 3-0.

"I thought that was the biggest at-bat of the game outside of [Jason] Castro's homer later," Porter said. "He's done all the little things, whether it's running the bases, playing defense, positioning or situational at-bats moving runners over. Right now, I'd say he's over Paredes."