HOUSTON -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch said prior to Thursday's 4-2 win over the Orioles at Minute Maid Park that he wanted center fielder Jake Marisnick in the game for his defense, even though the outfielder has been struggling at the plate.
Marisnick went 1-for-3 with a double and made his biggest contribution with a pair of long running catches in the eighth inning to strand a runner at first base.
"I love Jake's defense in center field," Hinch said.
Marisnick took a circuitous route on a ball hit by Mark Trumbo to the deepest park of the ballpark in the eighth, making the catch at the warning track near the wall. Jonathan Schoop followed and sent him into the gap in right-center for the third out of the frame.
He's hitting .127 this season, but Marisnick's defense is Gold Glove Award caliber, and Hinch has given him the lion's share of the starts in center field since Carlos Gomez went on the disabled list a week ago.