(SportsRadio 610) -- Astros third baseman Alex Bregman left Wednesday night's game against the Texas Rangers with a strained left quadriceps he injured running to first base in the first inning.
Houston won the game behind a season-high six home runs, but losing one of its best players certainly had an impact on the team.
The Astros placed Bregman on the 10-day injured list Thursday. They called up Garrett Stubbs from Triple A Sugar Land.
Bregman has dealt with hamstring injuries throughout his career, and most recently this year in spring training. The quad injury is different, but could still keep him out for a significant period of time.
Manager Dusty Baker after the 8-4 win over the Rangers said the severity of Bregman's quad injury was not immediately clear and they should learn more Thursday.
"That was a downer," Baker said. "The first thing we saw when he came up limping, we thought it was that hamstring again. Indeed, it was a different muscle in his legs. But the way he walked in the clubhouse, we knew it wasn't a good sign. We hate to lose him for any period of time and hopefully we have him back."
Among the bright spots for Houston was the production from the bottom of the lineup. Their 7, 8 and 9 hitters (Chas McCormick, Myles Straw and Martin Maldonado) all went deep against Rangers starter Jordan Lyles.
McCormick homered twice in the game, the first one off Lyles to opposite right field, then another off reliever Taylor Hearn to left.
McCormick, who played for an ailing Kyle Tucker in right field, has performed well in a limited role for the Astros. He's homered eight times in 89 at-bats this season.
It's that type of contribution Houston will need from its reserves as attrition wears on the team.
"I think we have a great bench," McCormick said. "Guys can step up in that role and do well. Everyone's confident with everyone we have on this team, so we've just got to keep pushing forward, even with the bumps in the road. We have to stay prepared."
Bregman entered that game on a 0-for-18 streak, hitting .276 with seven home runs and 34 RBI on the season.
Zack Greinke acknowledged Bregman hasn't been 100 percent physically this year, but the team is going to have to find a way without him.
Robel Garcia played third base in Bregman's absence. It also hurts the Astros not having utility player Aledmys Diaz, who is often called upon to spell injured or tired positions players, but is dealing with a hand injury of his own.
"That's going to be pretty rough," Greinke said Wednesday when asked about Bregman. "Every team has to deal with injuries and just got to figure it out. He hasn't been at 100 percent much this year. Things haven't been going ideally for him this year, so it's tough. Hopefully, he feels good when he comes back."
