Springer belts Astros past D-backs

By Joe Southern | Special to the Katy Times
Posted 9/21/20

A pair of George Springer dingers – including an inside the park hustle and the 2,000th Astros home run hit inside Minute Maid Park – help the Houston Astros close out their final home …

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Springer belts Astros past D-backs

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A pair of George Springer dingers – including an inside the park hustle and the 2,000th Astros home run hit inside Minute Maid Park – help the Houston Astros close out their final home stand of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday afternoon.

“I was excited to tie the game; I’m just happy to help,” Springer said in a post-game interview.

Springer crushed a shot to deep center field in the sixth inning and hustled around the bases to finish with a dive into home to score the first run for the Astros. It closed the gap on the two-run lead the Diamondbacks had.

Springer said he wasn’t sure he would get more than a triple out of the hit. He said he knew it was a home run, “When I slid in and scored and was called safe.”

“I got to third base and ran for home. I ran as hard as I could for the final 90 feet,” he said.

His next at-bat in the seventh was a solo shot that tied the game.

“It was a huge moment to tie the game,” he said.

There has been speculation that the homer was Springer’s last as an Astro in Minute Maid Park, as his contract expires this season.

“No, I’m not concerned about that now,” he said. “The next road trip, the next games, that’s what I’m concerned about.”

Manager Dusty Baker addressed the situation in his post-game conference.

“We hope we get to the point where he puts pressure on the Astros to sign him … This ballpark is perfect for him,” Baker said.

Against the Diamondbacks, the Astros started Jose Urquidy on the mound. He went six innings, giving up a pair of earned runs and striking out two. Blake Taylor got the win and Ryan Pressley earned the save. The Astros got the winning run in the eighth inning when Carlos Correa hit a sacrifice fly that scored Alex Bregman from third.

Baker said he was pleased that the Astros are finding ways to win one-run games of late. He said it could make a difference as they head to Seattle for three games, followed by four at the Texas Rangers to end the regular season.

“We have a chance to go up there three-up, possibly four-up,” Baker said.

There will be no more home games for the Astros this season. American League playoffs will be played in California and National League games will be played in Texas with the World Series at the Texas Rangers’ ballpark.

Astros, Joe Southern, George Springer, Diamdondbacks, Minute Maid Park, home run, Jose Urquidy, Ryan Pressley, Blake Taylor, Carlos Correa, Dusty Baker