Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Los Angeles Angels Josh Lowe during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Looming behind each pitcher who takes the mound at Daikin Park is a left-field wall that can comfort or confound. The first pitch Mike Burrows threw for the Houston Astros initiated him to the havoc the Crawford Boxes can create.
Zach Neto lofted it to left. Metrics deemed it a routine flyout in most major-league stadiums. Statcast gave it an expected batting average of .010. Yordan Alvarez drifted to the wall, leapt and heard the ball clang off the out-of-town scoreboard above his outstretched glove.
“I think it was just, ‘Welcome to Houston,’” Burrows said. “It’s the wall you’ve got to play with here. It’s unfortunate but part of it.”
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A leadoff double for Neto would lead to the game’s first run. An inning later, Josh Lowe laced another fastball from Burrows into the left-field bleachers, the contrast concentrated in that area distilling the right-hander’s Astros debut Friday night.
A mixture of balky batted-ball luck and damaging blasts burned Burrows, the offseason trade addition making his first start for Houston. The Los Angeles Angels scored five runs against him and handed the Astros a 6-2 defeat, their second straight to open the season.
Houston Astros Joey Loperfido (10) takes his helmet back to the dugout after striking out during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) breaks his bat during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (0) reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews, left, watches as right fielder Cam Smith fields Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada’s line out during the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) throws toward the infield after catching Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada’s line out during the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) fields a fly ball by Los Angeles Angels Jo Adell in front of center fielder Brice Matthews during the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Yainer Diaz (21) hits a single during the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) hits a single during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) beats the throw to first for a single during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) jokes with players in the dugout after beating a throw to first for a single during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Los Angeles Angels second baseman Oswald Peraza (2) stretches to try and make a play as Houston Astros Jose Altuve steals second during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston. Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe was charged with an error on the play.
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Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) reacts after lining out to Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoán Moncada during the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Roddery Muñoz (46) delivers during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after grounding out during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after grounding out during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after grounding out during the sixth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Roddery Muñoz (46) challenges a ball call on a full count against Los Angeles Angels’ Nolan Schanuel during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston. The call was confirmed.
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Houston Astros pitcher Roddery Muñoz (46) reacts after his challenge of a ball call on a full count against Los Angeles Angels’ Nolan Schanuel is confirmed during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) is seen during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Steven Okert (48) delivers during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) tries to turn a turn a double play as Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada reaches base during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) reacts after his high throw allowed Los Angeles Angels Yoán Moncada to reach base during the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (21) gives relief pitcher Steven Okert (48) a fist-bump after striking out Los Angeles Angels Jo Adell to end the top of the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) reacts after a strike call during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts after being called out on strikes on a full count during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts after being called out on strikes on a full count during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) strikes out during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Astros fans cheer during the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Yainer Diaz (21) reacts after striking out end the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) is seen after giving up a solo home run to Los Angeles Angels Zach Neto during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) delivers during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Weiss (51) delivers during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) hits a single during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) reacts after hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Brice Matthews (0) loses his helmet hitting a double during the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Cam Smith (11) reacts after striking out to end the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros baseman Carlos Correa point to the dugout after hitting a single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) scores on a win pitch from Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) reacts after sliding into second base during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts after flying out during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) reacts after hitting a single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) hits a single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (28) fields Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout’s single during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) delivers during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) delivers during the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader (71) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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The MLB logo is painted on grass before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) is seen before an MLB baseball game at Daikin Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston.
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Both featured a lineup still looking to get on track. Houston struck eight hits Friday but just one that drove in a run — Yordan Alvarez’s solo home run off Yusei Kikuchi to open the fifth inning. The Astros went 1-for-7 with men in scoring position and left nine runners on base.
“It’s early in the season and we’re all trying to get our feet underneath us and trying to get going here,” manager Joe Espada said. “But today, overall, I was pleased with the way we swung the bats. I think we hit some balls hard. Our approach was better. We used the middle of the field more.”
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They played from behind for most of the night. Houston slotted Burrows, acquired from the Pirates this winter, second in the initial rotation following his excellent spring. One start will not erase that impression, but the Angels spoiled his introduction.
Burrows allowed nine hits in his 5⅔ innings. Some were vexing. Mike Trout followed Neto’s double in the first with a flare single to center field. Neto took third and scored when Burrows induced a double-play groundball that helped him stem the inning.
His second was costlier. After a leadoff walk and a bloop single, Josh Lowe jumped on a first-pitch fastball and sent it 374 feet for an opposite-field home run into the Crawford Boxes. Trout tattooed a solo blast over the Boxes in the fifth, his second home run in as many days.
Los Angeles
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
Avg.
Totals
36
6
11
5
6
11
Neto ss
5
2
2
1
0
1
.200
Trout cf
4
1
3
1
1
0
.667
Schanuel 1b
3
0
2
0
2
0
.375
Soler dh
4
0
0
0
1
2
.111
Moncada 3b
4
1
0
0
1
1
.143
Adell rf-lf
5
1
1
0
0
2
.375
Lowe lf
4
1
2
3
0
1
.250
Teodosio rf
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
O’Hoppe c
4
0
1
0
0
2
.375
Peraza 2b
3
0
0
0
1
2
.143
Houston
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
Avg.
Totals
35
2
8
1
3
10
Peña ss
5
1
2
0
0
0
.400
Alvarez lf
5
1
1
1
0
1
.125
Paredes dh
4
0
0
0
0
2
.000
Altuve 2b
3
0
1
0
1
1
.167
Correa 3b
3
0
2
0
1
0
.286
Smith rf
4
0
0
0
0
2
.000
Walker 1b
3
0
0
0
1
0
.167
Diaz c
4
0
1
0
0
1
.143
Matthews cf
3
0
1
0
0
2
.333
a-Loperfido ph
1
0
0
0
0
1
.400
Los Angeles
130
010
001_6
11
2
Houston
100
010
000_2
8
0
a-struck out for Matthews in the 9th.
E_O’Hoppe 2 (2). LOB_Los Angeles 9, Houston 9. 2B_Neto (1), Lowe (1), Matthews (1). HR_Lowe (1), off Burrows; Trout (2), off Burrows; Neto (1), off Weiss; Alvarez (1), off Kikuchi. RBIs_Lowe 3 (3), Trout (2), Neto (1), Alvarez (1). SB_Peña (1).
Runners left in scoring position_Los Angeles 5 (Adell 3, Neto 2); Houston 5 (Peña, Smith 2, Diaz, Alvarez). RISP_Los Angeles 2 for 15; Houston 1 for 7.
Runners moved up_Schanuel. GIDP_Soler, Schanuel.
DP_Houston 2 (Altuve, Peña, Walker; Correa, Altuve, Walker).
Los Angeles
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
NP
ERA
Kikuchi
4
1-3
8
2
2
1
3
86
4.15
Silseth
2-3
0
0
0
0
0
10
0.00
Zeferjahn, W, 1-0
2
0
0
0
0
2
23
0.00
Bachman, H, 1
1
0
0
0
2
3
27
0.00
Romano
1
0
0
0
0
2
13
0.00
Houston
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
NP
ERA
Burrows, L, 0-1
5
2-3
9
5
5
2
6
94
7.94
Muñoz
2-3
0
0
0
3
0
26
0.00
Okert
1
2-3
0
0
0
0
3
20
0.00
Weiss
1
2
1
1
1
2
22
9.00
Inherited runners-scored_Silseth 1-0, Muñoz 1-0, Okert 2-0. WP_Kikuchi, Muñoz. PB_O’Hoppe (1).
Umpires_Home, John Tumpane; First, Ben May; Second, Brennan Miller; Third, Chris Conroy.
T_2:57. A_30,788 (41,000).
“I fell behind a bunch, more than I would have liked to,” Burrows said. “But I think overall, there was a lot of executed pitches and a lot to build off.”
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Both pitches hit for home runs were “generally where I wanted,” Burrows said. “I think both were jumped. But overall, pretty much executed where I wanted, could’ve went either way.”
The Angels averaged just an 84.1 mph average exit velocity on 18 balls put into play against Burrows. They also whiffed on just 10 of 45 swings against Burrows, who issued two walks and struck out six. They took a 4-1 lead in the second inning and did not look back.
“Not a ton of hard-hit balls, and then on the other side we’re hitting balls hard and they’re getting caught,” Espada said. “But that’s baseball, right.
“I thought he was more efficient the last three innings of work, made some pitches. And our bullpen came in and did a nice job, only allowed one run after that, gave us a chance.”
Off the hook
Houston had traffic on the basepaths in each of Kikuchi’s innings. The left-hander allowed eight hits and a walk before exiting with one out in the fifth. Seven of his runners were stranded, a series of unfulfilled chances for the Astros, who again lacked timely hits. They are 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position in their first two games this season.
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Kikuchi struck out Cam Smith with an elevated fastball to strand two runners in the first. Jeremy Peña had the Astros’ lone hit in five at-bats with a man in scoring position against Kikuchi in the second. It did not produce a run. Brice Matthews doubled and Peña sent a chopper up the middle.
Second baseman Oswald Peraza’s backhanded stab left him no play but kept Matthews at third. Peraza then knocked down a 113 mph scorcher from Alvarez and recovered to throw him out. Astros first-base coach Dave Clark threw up his hands in exasperation.
Alvarez lined a full-count slider into the right-field seats leading off the fifth. An infield single by Jose Altuve ended Kikuchi’s night. Chase Silseth replaced him and induced lineouts from Carlos Correa and Smith to leave Altuve standing on third base.
After making Kikuchi throw 30 pitches in the first inning, the Astros saw 42 pitches over the next three frames. They averaged a 94.9 mph exit velocity on 18 batted balls in play against him — 95 mph is hard-hit. But that quality of contact did not yield the results they coveted.
From the top
Peña, making his season debut after sitting out opening day, delivered an early reminder of the dynamic he brings to Houston’s lineup.
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Peña lined a low changeup from Kikuchi for a leadoff single in the first inning, then stole second base. On a pitch to Altuve that kicked away from catcher Logan O’Hoppe, Peña sprinted for third. O’Hoppe’s throw bounced past the third baseman Moncada and Peña jogged home with the Astros’ first run of the 2026.
Though Espada indicated pregame Peña may not immediately play every day in his return from a fractured right ring fingertip, Peña struck two of Houston’s hits and played all nine innings. Correa struck two hits, as well. No other Astros starter had more than one. Their lineup struck out 10 times.
Challenge denied
Espada stopped short of issuing mandates to his players about the ABS challenge system this spring, but he did state some preferences. Among them, Espada said he would rather his pitchers not challenge calls, deferring to catchers, and encouraged players to consider leverage of the situation in deciding whether to challenge.
Neither of Houston’s two challenges Friday, both unsuccessful, adhered to those guidelines closely. Catcher Yainer Diaz challenged an 0-0 pitch to Jorge Soler in the first inning that was ruled a ball. ABS showed it missed the zone by 1.9 inches. Espada said he did not have a problem with that challenge.
“We want our guys, when they feel strongly about a particular pitch, to go for it,” Espada said. “Yainer Diaz has actually been really good on that top part of the zone challenging pitches, so he thought it was close.”
Teams have two challenges per game and keep successful ones. Diaz’s miss left Houston with one challenge. Reliever Roddery Muñoz used that in the seventh inning. With one out and the bases empty, Muñoz threw a full-count slider to Nolan Schanuel that was called ball four. Muñoz challenged, and ABS showed the pitch missed low by 1.3 inches.
That left the Astros with zero challenges for their catchers or hitters. Espada said afterward he planned to “have a conversation” with Muñoz about the challenge.
“For the pitcher, we encourage them not to do it because they’re just too far away from the play and we want to remove the emotions from the call,” Espada said. “I thought Muñoz really wanted that pitch and I understand that. But we can always use that challenge for later in the game, for our hitters to get back in the game.”