Taylor Trammell gave the Astros a needed jolt Wednesday night, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a win over the Blue Jays. It was the kind of swing that can briefly change the tone around a player who has been looking for one.
He did it at 6:06 p.m. EDT on Wed, Jun 24th, and the timing mattered because Trammell has not been putting together much offense lately. He had hits in only two of his last 11 contests, a stretch that makes even one clean night stand out.
The bigger picture is modest but not empty. Through 31 games, Trammell was batting.275 with one home run, eight RBI, 10 runs scored and one stolen base. That line shows a player who has contributed in spots, but not one who has been steady enough to erase questions about his place in the Astros lineup.
That is where Joe Espada comes in. Managing an underwhelming stretch at the plate, he has been working with a streaky bat that can change games with one swing and disappear for several more. Trammell’s homer offered a reminder of the upside, but it did not clean up the larger pattern that has followed him for most of this run.
Whether Taylor Trammell’s next start comes quickly or his role tightens again is the part that still matters most. A solo homer can buy a little room. It does not guarantee the bat stays in the lineup every day.
