Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that “the Red Sox are tracking the progress of catcher Chris Iannetta in Triple-A Colorado Springs in case the Rockies make him available.”
Despite being 27 years old and a three-time Opening Day starter with over 1,100 career plate appearances Iannetta was demoted to Triple-A last month when he got off to a 4-for-30 (.133) start. He’s hitting .362 with five homers, seven doubles, and a 1.191 OPS in 15 games at Triple-A, but there’s no indication that the Rockies plan to bring him back, let alone give him a chance to reclaim his starting job over Miguel Olivo.
Boston’s interest in Iannetta would seemingly come into play after the season, when Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek are both free agents. What made the Rockies’ decision to demote Iannetta all the more confusing is that they signed him to a three-year, $8.5 million extension in January. Plenty of teams should be looking to take advantage of the Rockies souring on an under-30 catcher with a .799 career OPS and 23 homers per 500 at-bats who’s signed cheaply through 2012.
Alvarez’s bases-clearing double sends Astros past White Sox
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
HOUSTON – Yordan Alvarez hit a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh inning, and the Houston Astros rallied past the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Friday night for their first win of the season.
Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in the sixth and made a spectacular catch at the wall in the seventh to rob Andrew Benintendi of extra bases and keep the World Series champion Astros within one run.
Eloy Jimenez hit two RBI doubles for the White Sox, both off Astros starter Cristian Javier.
Jimenez’s first double scored Tim Anderson in the first inning. In the sixth, Javier gave up three straight doubles to Benintendi, Jimenez and Joan Moncada to make it 3-0 and end his night.
White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh on two walks and a single. Jake Diekman came on and gave up Alvarez’s double to deep left-center, a drive that just eluded Luis Robert Jr. and bounced off the wall, clearing the bases.
Four Astros relievers each worked one scoreless inning. Seth Martinez (1-0) got the win and Rafael Montero handled the ninth for his first save.
Chicago starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
ALL IN A DAY’S REST
White Sox INF Andrew Vaughn, who hit a go-ahead two-run double in Thursday’s season-opening win, did not play. Vaughn experienced lower back issues during spring training. Gavin Sheets started at first base.
HOMETOWN HIT
Astros outfielder Corey Yulks, a Houston-area native, singled in his first at-bat and finished 1-for-4 in his major league debut.
PUT A RING ON IT
Astros owner Jim Crane and his wife, Whitney, presented the team and staff with their 2022 World Series rings in a pregame ceremony.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: LHP Blake Taylor, who is on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow strain, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land.
UP NEXT
The four-game season-opening series continues Saturday when Houston’s Jose Urquidy faces Chicago’s Lucas Giolito.