(SportsRadio 610) -- Aside from completely dominating the Oakland Athletics in their season-opening series, the Astros picked up a moral victory.
They watched designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, coming off surgery on both knees to repair torn patellar tendons, run the bases with ease.
This was an admitted concern for manager Dusty Baker, who's noted Alvarez had not slid in about two years. Baker even questioned whether Alvarez could slide.
The 2019 American League Rookie of the Year over the weekend showed he could do it.
Alvarez drew a walk Sunday and scored from first base on an RBI-double by Yuli Gurriel.
After Alvarez slid into home, he and teammate Aledmys Díaz gave a Baker a look to make sure he took note.
"Everyone was asking when he was going to slide, when he was going first to home, and he did both on the same play," Baker said. "It made me feel great. It made him feel more confident and comfortable that he's doing well and can slide. It opens the door for us to do some more things."
Whether that means Alvarez can play in the field remains to be seen. Baker's been clear that Alvarez is strictly a designated hitter, for now.
But with Michael Brantley's injury history, the most recent a bone bruise after being hit by a pitch Saturday, it helps knowing Alvarez's knees can hold up to stress.
Alvarez finished the weekend 5-for-17 with a double and a home run. The at-bat from which he scored on the Gurriel hit Sunday was one of his more impressive, drawing a nine-pitch walk after fouling away three two-strike pitches.
