HOUSTON -- After six games serving as the designated hitter or as a pinch hitter off the bench, Yuli Gurriel is poised to make his debut defensively for the Astros this week against the Athletics, perhaps as early as Monday night in the series opener.Gurriel worked extensively with third base coach Gary Pettis in left fielder prior to the series finale against the Rays on Sunday in anticipation of donning a glove for the first time since the Astros (68-62) recalled him from Triple-A Fresno on Aug. 21. Gurriel will debut at either third base or in left, with the latter a more likely option given how effectively rookie Alex Bregman has wielded his glove at the hot corner.Gurriel dealt with a minor hamstring issue while the Astros completed a recent seven-game road trip in Pittsburgh, delaying his opportunity to showcase his defensive chops. Gurriel enjoyed an exceptional 15-year career in Cuba as a middle infielder, but with the Astros set at second base (All-Star Jose Altuve) and shortstop (2015 American League Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa), and with Bregman emerging, Gurriel will bounce around now that his health is no longer a big concern.Its easier for me to trust him and have him know himself, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said of deciding that Gurriel is healthy enough to play in the field. Hes been on the center stage, has been one of the best players on his team every team hes been on so he knows what its going to take and this is fulfilling a dream of his so hes not going to be frivolous with his body.The Astros will open the series with Oakland behind rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove (1-2, 5.20 ERA). Musgrove will make his first career appearance against the Athletics following five outings (four starts) after his promotion on Aug. 1.Musgrove is looking to bounce back from back-to-back subpar outings against the Orioles and Pirates having allowed 13 runs on 19 hits (including four home runs) over 9 1/3 innings.The Athletics (57-73) will counter with rookie left-hander Sean Manaea (5-8, 4.53 ERA), who made his major league debut against the Astros on April 29 in Oakland.Manaea did not record a decision in either of his two starts against the Astros, posting a 3.00 ERA while allowing four runs on nine hits and four walks with nine strikeouts in 12 innings. Manaea was sharp last Tuesday against the Indians, surrendering just one run on three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings in a 9-1 victory in Oakland.The Athletics won their second consecutive series against a postseason contender on Sunday, beating the Cardinals 7-4 in St. Louis in the rubber match of that three-game set. Oakland also took two of three against the Indians before departing on a six-game road swing that concludes at Minute Maid Park.Were a good team, Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt said. Weve had an up-and-down season with a lot of injuries, a lot of new faces. But one thing about this group is weve taken a lot of series from some good teams. Were not going to quit or roll over. Custom Babe Herman Jersey . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. 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Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. MINNEAPOLIS -- White Sox manager Robin Ventura approached Jose Abreu at his locker following Sundays tight victory over the Twins, and the two shared a joke.It was a moment of levity at the end of a stressful day.Abreu hit two three-run homers and drove in a career-best seven runs, and Chicago used Tim Andersons two-run double in the 12th inning to beat Minnesota 13-11 for a split of their four-game series.I will say that this is my best moment of this season, Abreu said.Abreu, Anderson and Melky Cabrera had three hits apiece, helping the White Sox overcome four homers for Minnesota. The teams combined for 18 homers in the series.Abreu fell one shy of the franchise record of eight RBI in a game, a mark shared by three people, including Ventura.We were joking about the RBI, our record that he owns, Abreu said through a translator. I was one short, but we were all joking about it.While Abreu delivered another impressive performance, Anderson had the biggest hit of the day. With one out and runners on second and third in the 12th, the rookie doubled to deep left against Pat Dean (1-6).Juan Minaya (1-0) earned his first major league win. He pitched a scoreless 11th but walked the first two batters in the 12th. Tommy Kahnle then came in and earned his third career save, retiring Eddie Rosario with the bases loaded for the final out.Im not going to tell you what was going through my mind, Ventura said of Minnesotas threat in the 12th. But theyre not easy.Byron Buxton hit his first career grand slam for Minnesota, and Brian Dozier, Miguel Sano and John Ryan Murphy also went deep. The Twins hit 11 homers in the four-game set.To have an offensive day like that, and to really have the guys you want in the game at the end with a chance, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said of the frustrating pitching performaance.dddddddddddd I dont know how many of those weve had that would rank up there with that one.Abreu opened the scoring with a three-run shot in the first. He added an RBI single in the fifth and another three-run drive in the seventh, trimming Minnesotas lead to 9-7.Abreu is batting .370 with 11 homers and 30 RBI in his past 31 games.Hes swinging it, this is what you really expect out of him, Ventura said. I know that its pretty free and easy right now. But even the home runs, thats really more indicative of him. Right now hes feeling pretty good about it, sitting in the middle of our lineup driving in some runs.Buxton had three hits, and Dozier connected for his 35th homer. Sano hit his 22nd and Murphy added his first for the Twins after being recalled a day earlier.TRAILING ONLY KILLEBREWDozier leads the majors with 21 homers since the All-Star break. He has the most home runs of any Twins player since Josh Willingham also hit 35 in 2012.Only Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew has hit more homers in a single season in Twins history.Dont be putting me in Killebrews, in a sentence with him, Dozier said. Thats pretty cool. Weve still got a little ways to go, but thats pretty cool.UP NEXTWhite Sox: Chris Sale (15-7, 3.10 ERA) starts Monday against the Detroit Tigers, who counter with Justin Verlander (14-7, 3.30 ERA). Sale is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings in four starts against Detroit this season. Verlander has allowed more than two runs just once in his past 12 starts.Twins: Molitor said rookie right-hander Jose Berrios (2-4, 9.24 ERA) will be called up to start Monday against Kansas City. The Royals counter with RHP Ian Kennedy (9-9, 3.66 ERA). ' ' '
