Back with Astros, Jose Abreu has RBI single in loss to Mariners

Jose Abreu is returning to the majors after the Houston Astros recalled the troubled first baseman ahead of Monday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

The veteran delivered an RBI single in his return, cutting the Mariners’ lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning of a 3-2 loss at Houston. It was his first league success since April 27.

Abreu was hitting .099 (7-for-71) with just one extra-base hit and 18 strikeouts in 22 games before Houston demoted him to the club’s spring training site in West Palm Beach, Fla., on 1 may. Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday and went 0 for 7 with three strikeouts in two games.

Abreu played first base and reached eighth on Monday. He finished 1 for 3, increasing his average to .108.

Abreu, 37, hit .237 with 18 homers and 90 RBIs in 141 games for Houston last season, his first with the club. Before that, he spent nine seasons with the Chicago White Sox and was the American League MVP in 2020.

Right-hander Cristian Javier (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list as part of the Astros’ other moves, retroactive to Friday. Javier, 27, was scheduled to start Tuesday’s game against Seattle, but was unable to participate in his scheduled bullpen session Sunday due to forearm discomfort.

He will undergo an MRI, manager Joe Espada said.

Javier, who is 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts, experienced a reduction in velocity in his last outing. He received no decisions while allowing four runs and eight hits in four innings against the Los Angeles Angels.

Espada also said Jose Urquidy would undergo an MRI due to forearm discomfort. Urquidy, who has yet to appear in the majors this season, was making his third rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday when he was removed after 3⅔ innings.

Houston also recalled right-hander Alex Speas from Sugar Land. On Sunday, Houston selected infielder/flyer Joey Loperfido to the same affiliate.

The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.