HOUSTON — Prior to his game-winning blast in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday, perhaps the most resonating moment for Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis at Minute Maid Park came during the finale of a season-opening homestand, when Houston fans booed Gattis following a stretch of eight strikeouts over eight plate appearances.
While those Astros faithful ignored the trap of small sample sizes and were hasty in their judgment, their reaction on April 9 was a byproduct of all the Astros surrendered in acquiring Gattis from the Atlanta Braves during the offseason: right-handed pitching prospects Mike Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman, and touted third-base prospect Rio Ruiz.
Now with five homers in six games, including two homers on Sunday, Gattis is providing the slugging the Astros anticipated when they traded for him. He had at least one supporter in his corner all along.
“I’ve been the one guy that sort of stayed even on him,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s in the top percentage of guys that hit the ball as hard as anybody in the game, and he has been doing that even through not getting hits. And I get that the numbers are going to be screwy a little bit for the time being until he builds back up, but the presence that he brings, even in his down time, matters in our clubhouse, matters in our dugout, in the lineup.
“I always felt like he was going to be a key guy at the right time. He’s come up with some big hits this last stretch that we’ve been in. Man, he hits the ball hard, and when he hits the ball hard, good things happen.”
Gattis still has a ways to go to get his slash line up to snuff; he’s batting .198/.225/.442 over 23 games. But with four consecutive multi-RBI games, Gattis paces the Astros with 17 RBIs. His six homers are tied for the team lead with third baseman Luis Valbuena.
Gradually those boos turned to cheers, and Gattis appreciates the patience Hinch showed.
“Everybody’s been really supportive, especially early,” Gattis said. “I think it goes both ways. We’re all on the same team. We’re all trying to — everybody’s doing our best. With A.J., I think it’s actions more than anything, having me out there and being in the lineup says a lot about what they thought of me.”