[June 10, 2014]PHOENIX -- Houston left-handed
specialist Tony Sipp has appearance incentives in his contract, which
could make for some interesting salary calculations because of his
workload Monday.
Sipp made two appearances on the mound in the Astros' 4-3 victory
over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Monday, playing one
out in right field between facing left-handed hitters Gerardo Parra
and Miguel Montero in the eighth inning as Houston maintained a
one-run lead.
"I think I had more focus in right field than on the mound," Sipp
said. "I don't think it's something you can prepare for, but you
know every out is a big out. I don't think I had time to be
nervous."
Sipp retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning, then
struck out Parra to open the eighth inning before Houston manager Bo
Porter summoned right-hander Jerome Williams to face Paul
Goldschmidt and moved Sipp to right field.
Williams walked Goldschmidt and Sipp returned to strike out Montero.
Kyle Farnsworth entered to get the last out of the eighth, and
right-hander Chad Qualls pitched the ninth inning for his eighth
save.
"It was a good play unless 'Goldy' hit one to him," Arizona manager
Kirk Gibson said. "I have seen it done before. He's going to manage
his team the way he wants to manage it. It worked out for him."
Sipp will receive $25,000 each for making 35, 40, 45 and 50
appearances. He is to receive $50,000 each for 55 and 60
appearances. He is at 15/16 now.
"I thought those days were behind me," said Sipp, who played center
field and pitched at Clemson. "If I misplay a ball, I put myself in
a worse situation, because I have to come back and face Montero."
Second baseman Jose Altuve had three hits and drove in a run, and
center fielder Dexter Fowler added three hits and scored twice for
the Astros (29-36), who won for the third time in four games and are
12-4 since May 24.
Altuve hit an RBI double and scored in the second inning as the
Astros grabbed a 4-0 lead off Arizona right-hander Josh Collmenter
(4-3). Fowler singled and scored in each of the first two innings.
Right-hander Jarred Cosart (5-5) gave up five hits and three runs in
six innings. He tied a career high with eight strikeouts for the
second straight start. He has not given up more than three runs in
any of his past nine starts.
"He used his changeup tonight, and that was the difference maker in
his ability to go six innings because he was able to use his
off-speed pitches," Houston manager Bo Porter said.
Catcher Miguel Montero finished with two hits and an RBI, and first
baseman Paul Goldschmidt had an RBI double and two walks for Arizona
(28-38), which had won five of its last six.
"We were kind of up against it with a short bullpen," Porter said.
"We knew once Cosart came out of the game, we were going to have to
be creative and match up as best we could.
"I've watched him shag fly balls. He is a power shagger. We're
completely comfortable putting him out in the outfield."
Fowler and Altuve singled to open the first inning, and catcher
Jason Castro was hit by a pitch to load the bases before third
baseman Matt Dominguez hit a sacrifice fly. First baseman Jon
Singleton scored on an error by second baseman Aaron Hill, giving
Houston a 2-0 lead.
Fowler singled and scored on Altuve's double with one out in the
second inning, and Castro's two-out double drove in Altuve to make
it 4-0.
Parra walked with one out in the fourth, the first base runner off
Cosart, and he scored on Goldschmidt's double into the left-field
corner.
Arizona shortstop Didi Gregorius singled to open the sixth and
scored when Parra singled and Fowler misplayed the ball for an
error. Montero singled home Parra to make it 4-3.
NOTES: Arizona designated RHP Trevor Cahill for assignment. The
Diamondbacks have 10 days to release, outright, trade or option
Cahill, who is 1-6 with a 5.66 ERA. GM Kevin Towers indicated the
D-backs would like to keep Cahill in the organization, although
Cahill has enough service time to opt for free agency rather than
accept a minor league assignment. RHP Will Harris was promoted from
Triple-A Reno to fill the roster spot. ... Arizona RHP J.J. Putz was
activated from the disabled list, and 3B Eric Chavez (knee) was
placed on the DL. ... Houston DH Chris Carter will be used as a
pinch hitter in the two-game interleague series in Arizona, manager
Bo Porter said. Carter entered Monday's game hitting .194 with 10
home runs and 27 RBIs. Carter and 1B Jon Singleton hit grand slams
Sunday, the second time in franchise history the Astros hit two
slams in a game. CF Jimmy Wynn and 2B Denis Menke did it in the
ninth inning against the New York Mets on July 30, 1969.
