This was exactly what Astros manager Dusty Baker had in mind when he gave
“The thing about it is he’s covering the ball away and he’s pulling the ball, he’s taking what they’re giving him,” Baker said. “When they throw outside, he hits it to right, and when they throw it inside, he hits it to left. His pitch recognition is way ahead of most guys at this point, and his balance is good. He’s worked hard.”\n\nCorrea said he’s trying to look for pitches down the middle of the plate that he can drive early in counts.\n\n“I think I’m getting a better understanding of what I’m good at and the pitches I can drive,” he said. “I’m trying to get the pitch I want to drive, and it’s not there, hold off. I want to be aggressive early. Last year and the couple of years before, I felt like I was taking too many strike ones.”\n\nSpringer was aggressive against Bumgarner, taking just one pitch in his first four plate appearances. His second-inning sac fly put the Astros ahead, 2-0, and his bases-loaded double in the fifth keyed a five-run inning that pushed the lead to 8-1.\n\nMuch of the damage the Astros have done this year has been the result of free bases, leading to more opportunities to drive in runs. Houston is averaging 5.1 walks per game after adding four more walks Tuesday, as well as reaching base four times on hit by pitches, including three by Bumgarner.\n\nAstros starter