Registrierung » The Houston Astros have long admired Mich

HOUSTON (AP) — ael Brantley’s game from afar.They’re ready to appreciate it up close.The Astros finalized a $32 million http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , two-year contract Wednesday with the free agent outfielder and introduced him in Houston.“We like everything about Michael’s game, and we’ve been watching him for years,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “To be able to add a bat like Michael Brantley at this point in our progression, it gives us a lot better chance to continue to do damage the next two years. So we’re excited.”Brantley joins a team that lost to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS a year after winning its first World Series. The 31-year-old gives the Astros an upgrade in left field and adds a left-handed bat to a predominantly right-handed lineup.Manager A.J. Hinch has thought about where he’ll put Brantley in the batting order, but he wouldn’t divulge those thoughts publicly Wednesday. He did, however, rave about the team’s new addition.“He can do anything. We could ask him to do anything and he’s going to be able to do it,” Hinch said. “He gets on base. He gets hits. He can drive in runs. He’s a tough out. He doesn’t swing and miss. Those skills translate throughout the whole lineup.”He gets a $2 million signing bonus payable on March 15 and annual salaries of $15 million.Brantley is a career .295 hitter and adds more punch to an outfield anchored by center fielder George Springer. After spending his entire 10-year career with the Cleveland Indians, Brantley said he was both excited and nervous about the move.“It’s a little bit of both,” he said. “I’m excited to start a new journey, new chapter. And I’m really excited that I’m coming here with a great group of guys, great coaching staff that I kind of already know just with past experience with and competing with for a long period of time.”The three-time All-Star hit .309 with 17 homers http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , 36 doubles and 76 RBIs in 143 games last season, making 134 starts in left field. He had a $12 million base salary and earned $100,000 in bonuses. His best season came in 2014, when he finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting 20 homers with 97 RBIs — both career highs.Brantley can earn award bonuses for finishing top five in AL MVP voting, making the All-Star team or winning the World Series, League Championship Series MVP, a Gold Glove or a Silver Slugger award.Several of Houston’s position players welcomed Brantley via social media. Hinch said the team’s pitching staff was also thrilled to have him.“I think our pitching staff is as happy as can be that we signed him,” Hinch said. “We would shift him, he would hit against the shift. We would un-shift him, he would pull the ball in the hole. He’s what they call a professional hitter for a reason.”Luhnow said adding a player like Brantley was one of the Astros’ highest priorities for this offseason, but they will continue looking for opportunities to improve both the offense and their rotation.Hinch loves that Houston’s front office is so committed to improving the team despite already having a strong roster.“We like the feeling of winning,” he said. “We’ve won four years in a row Roberto Clemente Jersey , having a winning record. We’ve won the division a couple of years in the row. We’ve won a World Series, got to the ALCS. That’s a lot of success and a high standard and a high bar. … We’ve got a really good thing going and in order to keep that going we need moves like this when the opportunity presents itself.” PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Scott Kingery’s utility role has turned into a starting job, thanks to his hitting.Kingery hit a three-run homer, Jake Arrieta threw six effective innings and the Philadelphia Phillies snapped Arizona’s five-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.Kingery gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead in the second inning with a drive to left, his seventh homer and third in two games. He had eight homers as a rookie last year when he started at five positions and played everything but catcher and first base. He’s settled into playing center field or third base every day recently.Article continues below ...“Last year, it was a lot of crazy stuff going on, playing a lot of different positions and learning to hit major league pitching. I didn’t have time to relax,” Kingery said. “I have more confidence now. My mindset and approach have changed.”Arrieta (6-5) allowed three runs and six hits for his second win in eight starts. Hector Neris pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 14 tries.“It’s a challenge but when my sinker is down in the strike zone efficiently, the ball stays in the ballpark,” Arrieta said about facing a team that hit eight homers Monday.Ketel Marte went deep for the Diamondbacks, and the teams combined for only two homers a night after setting a major league record with 13.Arizona lefty Jon Duplantier (1-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in three innings.After Kingery’s homer, Bryce Harper ripped an RBI double to right to make it 4-0.Jay Bruce made an excellent sliding catch to prevent at least one run on Marte’s sinking liner to left with one out and runners on first and second in the third.“He was emphatic that he can play the outfield and play it well http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey ,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Bruce, who arrived in a trade on June 2. “He’s done it well.”Carson Kelly’s two-run double with two outs in the fourth cut it to 4-2. Eduardo Escobar’s sacrifice fly in the fifth got Arizona within a run.The Phillies regained their two-run lead in the bottom half. Bruce had an RBI single after J.T. Realmuto hit a double on which Rhys Hoskins scored following a throwing error by left fielder David Peralta.“Those are things we’re usually very good at. We throw the ball to the right base. We don’t compound things,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ll clean that up and when we do we’ll win those margins.”Marte connected off J.D. Hammer in the seventh.HECTOR’S RUNNeris has converted 16 straight saves and he’s 45 of 48 since June 21, 2017. Only Toronto’s Ken Giles, a former Phillies closer, has a better percentage (94.7 in that span. Giles is 54 for 57.BULLPEN BOUNDThe Phillies are removing Jerad Eickhoff from the starting rotation after he posted an 8.89 ERA in his last six starts and allowed 16 homers in 27 1/3 innings. The team hasn’t decided on a starter for Sunday in his spot.TRAINER’S ROOMDiamondbacks: RF Adam Jones wasn’t in the lineup for the fifth time in six games but entered in the seventh. He missed four straight with a right hamstring injury before returning Monday.Phillies: OF Roman Quinn was 2 for 4 with a stolen base in his second rehab game at Class A Clearwater. Quinn has been on the injured list since April 25 with a right groin strain. RHPs Edubray Ramos and Pat Neshek and LHP Adam Morgan are close to returning from the injured list.UP NEXTThe Phillies send RHP Zach Eflin (6-5, 2.88 ERA) to the mound and RHP Merrill Kelly (6-6, 4.12) goes for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday in the series finale.