Struggling Astros, Rockies set to alter fortunes in Mexico City
The baseball season is a long one, so players, coaches and managers gladly welcome any variation to the schedule. The Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros will experience that change this weekend when they play a two-game set in the Mexico City Series. The Rockies will send Cal Quantrill (0-2, 4.33 ERA) to the mound against the Astros’ Ronel Blanco (2-0, 1.33) on Saturday in a battle of right-handers. “It’s going to be exciting,” Houston outfielder Chas McCormick said. “To be able to go to Mexico and play in a (different) stadium, it’s going to be a good time. I think it’s going to be beautiful there and it’s always nice to play in warm weather. Just play against the Rockies and spread the Astros and Rockies around in Mexico, it’s a beautiful thing.” The games in Mexico City are part of the MLB World Tour that started with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers playing in Seoul, South Korea, in March and precedes a series between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets in London this summer. The fans in Mexico City will get to see established stars like Astros infielders Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve and Colorado’s young shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. And the players will get to experience a new culture. “It’ll be cool,” Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “I’ll get a taste of their culture and go play some baseball games. It should be fun. We’ve got an off-day before the game. Jake Cave was telling me there is a really cool museum right there in Mexico City. I might swing over there to check it out with him.”
