Bass' injury provides Fields with another shot

HOUSTON -- Only a week after manager Bo Porter said he wanted him to go to Triple-A to work on his confidence, right-handed reliever Josh Fields was back with the Astros. He was recalled Wednesday when reliever Anthony Bass went on the disabled list with a strained right intercostal muscle.

Fields was optioned to Oklahoma City after giving up 14 earned runs and 14 hits in three innings in five outings. He began the season in the bullpen and posted a 2.00 ERA and two saves in his first nine games before struggling. Fields had pitched three hitless innings for the RedHawks.

"I guess it's a little unexpected, but I feel pretty good," he said. "I had some pretty solid outings in Triple-A that I felt good about. I guess they felt I was ready to come back."

Porter described Fields' outings with the RedHawks as "dominating." The Astros had so much confidence in Fields the first month of the season that he was in the mix of relievers who were closing games. Porter said the Astros wanted Fields to relax.

"That's one of the things we talked to him about before he left," he said. "You see the power arm, you see the breaking stuff. But sometimes the game can speed up on you at this level. Being able to slow the game down and relax and make pitches is one of the big aspects of being a good Major League pitcher and being able to play to your potential."