After slow start, Castro warming up at the plate

HOUSTON -- After a slow start at the plate, All-Star catcher Jason Castro ended April with a flourish. Castro was hitting .271 (16-for-59) in his last 16 games prior to Wednesday, with three homers, 10 RBIs and a .889 OPS.

Castro began play Wednesday hitting .228 and tied for the team lead in homers (four) and leading the club in RBIs (13) and on-base percentage (.340) while riding a six-game hitting streak.

"It seems like every year to start, I'm a little slow, and I think it has to do with some timing stuff," he said. "Usually, guys with leg kicks and things like that, they take more time to get comfortable with timing and fine-tuning that aspect of it. I feel really good.

"For the past week and a half or so, I've felt pretty locked it. It probably started in Seattle [last week], so I'm really happy with where I'm at and continue to move forward and kind of fine-tune things when they get off a little bit. I feel like I've reached a point where I'm comfortable in the box and I have a good feel for where I want to be."

Castro began the season with just two hits in his first 20 at-bats. He struck out all three times he stepped to plate in Wednesday's 7-0 loss to end his hitting streak.