Jake Marisnick

Astros call up Kemp after sending down struggling Marisnick

Published May. 16, 2018 9:04 p.m. ET

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Houston Astros recalled outfielder Tony Kemp from Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday after sending Jake Marisnick down after the previous night's game.

Kemp was hitting .335 with a .841 OPS this season at Triple-A, including a 20-game hitting streak end that ended Tuesday.

He flew from Fresno to Phoenix to El Paso, Texas, with his Triple-A team Tuesday, and was informed of the call-up at the end of the second flight. He was on a shuttle back to the airport at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning for a 6:15 flight back to the West Coast, where he will bat ninth in the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.

''It's always funny, the day you get called up, you always go 0-for,'' Kemp said prior to the game. ''I'm kind of glad it ended just cause you have so many superstitions.''

Kemp gives the Astros added flexibility as he can play in the outfield or at second base, but Hinch is hoping he can provide a boost from left field.

''He's been the most consistent performer down there from an at-bats standpoint and he offers some speed that we're losing by sending Jake down,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. ''Hopefully he can get a little playing time and give a spark.''

Marisnick was hitting .141 in 34 games this season. He had six extra-base hits and seven RBIs in 85 at-bats, leading Astros manager A.J. Hinch to decide Marisnick needed regular plate appearances in the minors to get back into a rhythm.

''He hasn't really been right for most of the year,'' Hinch said after Tuesday night's 5-3 loss to the Angels. ''He's a really good player than hasn't quite gotten on track. He needs a run of at-bats he's not going to get here over the next 10 days or however long he's down there to get back to being a contributor again.''

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