After getting off to a horrid start in 2023, Cuban Jose “Pito” Abreu is off to a great month of June where he has just been seeing the ball a lot better and even putting more power on the ball. In the Astros 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals, Abreu went two for three with an RBI, but most importantly, notched a new career milestone of 1,500 hits.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with Houston leading, 3-0, the Astros had runners on first and second with two outs. Pitcher Chad Kuhl threw a 98.1 MPH sinker which Abreu was able to get a piece of and barely went over the head of Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia which scored the speedy Jose Altuve and extended the Astros lead, to 4-0. The ball left the bat at 78.9 MPH and had a Launch Angle of 15 DEG.
Prior to the RBI, Abreu got it going with a 106.2 MPH double off of Nationals starter Patrick Corbin. Abreu’s 106.2 exit velocity ended up being the third hardest hit ball of the game. In second place, it was Kyle Tucker at 107.0 MPH, and in first place, Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas at 107.8 MPH. That double would be his 1,500th career hit which is an accomplishment not many in the game are able to do.
Aside from Abreu, Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown shined. Brow went seven innings, struck out four, walked three, gave up four hits, but didn’t give up a run. The rook went topped out at 98.8 MPH and went with a fastball/knuckle curveball combo to give him the success that he had.
Game Notes:
- Jose Altuve scored his 1,000th career run
- Martin Maldonado hit his 100th career home run
- Jose Abreu drove in Jose Altuve’s 1,00th career run
With the win, the Astros move up to 38-29, which keeps them at second place in the AL West. As for Washington, they are now 26-39, which keeps them at the bottom of the National League East. The game two matchup will feature Josiah Gray for Washington against Astros Framber Valdez.