Hot-hitting Bregman leads Astros against White Sox (Aug 09, 2017)
CHICAGO -- Houston Astros shortstop Alex Bregman will attempt to match a franchise record when he and his teammates face the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Bregman, 23, collected an extra-base hit for the ninth consecutive game with a bases-clearing triple Tuesday in the series opener. He moved within one game of the team record held by Richard Hidalgo, who hit for extra bases in 10 straight games during the 2000 season.
"I'm just trying to see the ball and hit it," said Bregman, who is in his first full season in the majors. "I'm trying to hit the ball the other way hard and go from there."
Houston (71-41) is looking to regain its magic after losing seven of the past 10 games. Despite the recent skid, the Astros maintain the best record in the American League.
Chicago (42-68) will go for back-to-back wins for the first time this month. The White Sox are 4-19 since the All-Star break.
Right-hander Collin McHugh (0-0, 3.24 ERA) is set to make his fourth start of the year for Houston. McHugh has struck out 17 batters in 16 2/3 innings since returning from an elbow injury on July 22.
In three career starts against the White Sox, McHugh is 0-3 with a 4.00 ERA. He allowed two runs in seven innings in his only career appearance at Guaranteed Rate Field.
White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (5-10, 5.15 ERA) will oppose the Astros in his 18th start of the year. The 33-year-old is looking for career victory No. 50 in his sixth big league campaign.
Gonzalez is 1-4 with a 3.41 ERA in six career starts against the Astros. His only victory over Houston came June 6, 2013, when he was a member of the Baltimore Orioles.
White Sox catcher Kevan Smith said he and his teammates had confidence that they could beat some of the best teams in the big leagues. That was shown to be true Tuesday in Chicago's 8-5 win, in which Smith hit a two-run double and a two-run homer.
"I think it just proves that even though we're young and maybe not as experienced as some of the big squads, we can still put some games together," Smith said. "We just have to fuel off of each other. ... We need to take it into the future -- I say future, but I mean (Wednesday) -- but obviously with this whole rebuild thing, we just need to pick out as many positives as we can."
The Astros could welcome back George Springer from the 10-day disabled list before the game. Springer, who has been sidelined since July 25 because of discomfort in his left quadriceps, took part in a rigorous pregame workout Tuesday that included running, fielding and throwing.
"It was the highest-volume day that we've been able to have for him," Astros manager A.J. Hinch told the Houston Chronicle. "This is the best he's run since spring training, which is a good sign he's ready to go pretty soon. Given the workload today, it wasn't going to be today. But maybe this series."
