Abreu picks up the slack in Yordan’s absence

CLEVELAND — Astros slugger José Abreu struggled mightily all through the month of May, batting simply .180 with 4 extra-base hits in 26 video games.

All it took was flipping the calendar to June and visiting one in all his favourite ballparks to interrupt out of the prolonged stoop.

Abreu homered, singled and drove in three runs for the second straight night time at Progressive Field, serving to Houston break a four-game dropping streak with a 6-4 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.

“It starts with one good game. Now it’s two for José,” supervisor Dusty Baker stated. “Hopefully, there will be about 18 more, especially without Alvarez here.”

The 36-year-old first baseman had gone 61 video games with no three-RBI efficiency since becoming a member of Houston within the offseason, however did so on back-to-back days towards a really acquainted foe.

Abreu performed 150 video games towards Cleveland throughout his first 9 MLB seasons with the Chicago White Sox, ringing up 13 homers and 45 RBIs in 75 contests at Progressive Field. The Cuban-born All-Star inked a three-year contract with the Astros final November.

“I spent nine years in this division and have been here a lot,” Abreu stated by way of translator Jenloy Herrera. “I do feel very comfortable hitting in this ballpark.”

Abreu went 2-for-7 with a three-run homer off Logan Allen in the collection opener Friday, which the Guardians received 10-9 in 14 innings, then went 2-for-5 with a two-run shot off Triston McKenzie on Saturday.

“It’s about continuing to move forward,” Abreu stated. “I had some hits today that helped the team win. That’s what is most important.”

Baker stated he noticed indicators of enchancment from Abreu late final month, although they didn’t translate into hits or homers.

Since June 1, Abreu’s statistics mirror how properly he’s bouncing again. He is batting .289 with 9 RBIs in 9 video games, going 6-for-16 during the last three.

“Everybody wants you to go from cold to hot, but it takes a couple of times of getting hot before you get there,” Baker stated. “It didn’t take three days to get into it, so it usually takes this long to get out of [it]. You just have to wait it out.”