Big Bat Bregman


You'll always find plenty of heroes when the winning team scores in double digits. Still, there's good reason to single out Alex Bregman as a vital cog in the Astros Monday night win over the division-rival A's. The 3rd baseman doubled, drove in a run and later scored as Houston came from behind with a five-run 3rd innning. He then belted a three-run homer in the 8th as the Astros broke the game wide open -- and tacked on another valuable game to their division lead. 
In a year Houston expected to cruise to another division title, with perhaps the Angels as their chief threat, Oakland's small budget A's didn't appear to be a pre-season contender. With the Athletics flexing muscle and, for a moment, pulling into a first place tie, the guys who helped bring a World Series title to Houston are beginning to assert themselves again.
My images of Alex Bregman are from a Yankees/Astros ALCS game in the Bronx last fall.

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