While the defending World Series champion Houston Astros open their season at home against the Chicago White Sox, left-handed reliever Matt Gage of Gloversville will board a bus on Friday morning for a 10-hour ride through Texas.
Getting his first taste of the big leagues last season, Gage is back in the minors with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple-A affiliate of the Astros. They begin their season on Friday night at the El Paso Chihuahuas.
“Everywhere in Texas, everyone goes, ‘Yeah, it’s about five hours away, at least,’ ” Gage said. “Nothing’s really close, that’s for sure.”
Gage, a Broadlabin-Perth graduate and former Siena pitcher, hopes a return to Major League Baseball isn’t far away. He made his MLB debut with Toronto last June, but the Blue Jays released him in February. Houston claimed him off waivers a week later.
Though Gage pitched well for the Astros in spring training, allowing one run in six innings, Houston optioned him March 21 to Sugar Land.
“Going into camp, I said that right along, like, if I make the opening-day roster, great,” Gage said. “If not, then it is what it is, and I come down to Sugar Land and I stay in Triple-A until Dusty (Baker, Astros manager) or Dana (Brown, general manager) want me in the big leagues, and then I go up there and I try to help them win games. Try to get to the playoffs and win another championship.”
Gage is one of several players with Capital Region ties trying to get back into the majors after being sent down, injured or released during spring training.
Most notably, Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson starts the season with Triple-A Gwinett (Ga.), continuing the struggles of a pitcher who helped lead the Atlanta Braves to a World Series title two years ago. He has dealt with injury and inconsistency.
Columbia High product Kevin Smith, a shortstop, batted…
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