HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Astros reliever Bryan Abreu pitched Tuesday night after more than a month on the injured list with a left calf strain.
Manager Dusty Baker announced earlier in the day that Abreu would be available for the Astros' three-game series opener against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park.
He was then tasked with pitching the sixth and seventh innings with his team down 6-3. Former Astro Tony Kemp, pinch-hitting in the sixth, flied out to left field. Abreu struck out Frank Schwindel on three pitches, then Ramon Laureano (another former Astros minor leaguer) flied out on the first pitch.
Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer to tie the game in the bottom half of that inning, then scored another game-deciding three runs in the seventh to take the lead.
Prior to being activated, Abreu had four rehab outings with the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters. He completed the fourth rehab outing Saturday night, tossing 2/3 of a scoreless inning and striking out one batter.
Abreu also pitched one scoreless inning with one strikeout last Friday. His return is welcome as the Astros continue figuring out their bullpen issues.
Some of those issues are performance-based, but they have also been unlucky with injuries.
Three other relievers are rehabbing with the Skeeters: Joe Smith (elbow), Josh James (hip), and Austin Pruitt (elbow).
Baker said Pruitt still has work to do, but Smith could return later this week.
James threw a bullpen session for Astros coaches Thursday in Cleveland and is just transitioning rehab assignments from Single-A Fayetteville to Triple-A Sugar Land.
