News
Boone ready to begin comeback
Houston (55-56) at Florida (58-53), 6:10 p.m. CT
By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
08/09/09 5:30 PM ET
HOUSTON -- Aaron Boone, who underwent open heart surgery on March 27, will begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Monday at Double-A Corpus Christi with hope of returning to the Major Leagues when rosters are expanded on Sept. 1. Boone, 36, has been on the disabled list all season, but he has been working out with the Astros for several weeks. He will play five innings at third base Monday for the Hooks, take a day off and then play five innings at first base on Wednesday. "It's kind of almost a reality now," Boone said. "I think I started to get excited when [general manager] Ed [Wade] gave me my paper with kind of the game plan as far as my schedule, innings, positions and days and all. It sunk in a little bit, and I feel ready to go do this." Boone will play in Corpus Christi for 10-12 days, playing about seven games during that span. If everything goes well, he'll go to Triple-A Round Rock for a week or so and then join the Astros in Arizona for their Aug. 28-30 series against the D-backs. "You just start building up the innings and getting in baseball shape, so I'm excited," Boone said.Shortly after having surgery, Boone wasn't concerned about baseball. His health and his family were the No. 1 goal, but he always felt he could return to the field this year.
"It was pretty low on the list at the time," he said. "I knew probably in the back of my mind, if things went well and I progressed, then I would try. That's been my approach to it the whole time. If I'm feeling up to it, I want to try, and I am and things are going well so far. I'm excited to kick it off here." Boone is a career .264 hitter with 126 homers and 555 RBIs in his career with the Reds (1997-2003), Yankees ('03), Indians ('05-06), Marlins ('07) and Nationals ('08). Pitching matchupHOU: RHP Brian Moehler (7-7, 5.23 ERA)
Moehler, who pitched for the Marlins in 2005 and '06 before joining the Astros, is coming off one of his worst outings of the year. He gave up nine hits and seven runs (six earned), including a grand slam, in six innings against the Giants on Wednesday in Houston. He's pitched in only two games in his career against Florida, but has extensive experience at the Marlins' stadium, where he's 5-11 with a 4.91 ERA in 35 games. FLA: RHP Rick VandenHurk (1-1, 4.29 ERA)
In his fourth start, VandenHurk had his worst start. He lasted only four innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter, but he admitted that his performance did not merit a much longer outing. VandenHurk gave up five runs on seven hits. He was plagued by the long ball, surrendering three. Ryan Zimmerman sliced a low-and-away fastball just over the right-field wall and a pitch later, Adam Dunn crushed a pitch into the upper deck. Ronnie Belliard knocked the third home run for the Nationals. Tidbits
Entering Sunday, the Astros were 36-17 when their starting pitchers delivered quality starts. ... Outfielder Michael Bourn, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing three games, is two stolen bases shy of tying his career high of 41, set last season. ... Outfielder Jason Michaels' second-inning double Sunday was his 14th extra-base hit in his first 23 hits this year. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Astros (Roy Oswalt, 6-4, 3.61) at Marlins (Chris Volstad, 8-9, 4.48), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Astros (Bud Norris, 2-0, 1.69) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco, 8-7, 4.86), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Astros (Mike Hampton, 7-9, 5.30) at Marlins (Sean West, 3-4, 4.88), 6:10 p.m. CT
Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
