Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Cristian Javier threw 3 1/3 innings, looking solid early before he struggled in the fourth inning in a rehab start with the Corpus Christi Hooks on Saturday afternoon at Whataburger Field.
Javier was scheduled to throw between 60-65 pitches in the outing, and threw 68 pitches before exiting the game with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Of those 68 pitches, 39 went for strikes.
Javier threw 20 pitches in the first inning with one left on base, 22 in the second inning, eight in a quick third inning and 18 in the fourth inning where he began to struggle. Javier induced Frisco’s Abimelec Ortiz into a ground out to start the fourth but gave up back-to-back singles followed by a walk to load the bases before he exited the game.
Javier finished the outing allowing three hits with two walks and three strikeouts, and also was credited with allowing three runs, all earned. Two runs scored on bases-loaded walks by reliever Jacob DeLabio and another on a wild pitch.