Rookie Matt Dominguez Powers Up Against Reds

Rookie Matt Dominguez was 5-for-11 with two home runs and six RBI

It was quite the weekend for Houston Astros rookie third baseman Matt Dominguez.

In three games at Cincinnati, the 23-year-old Dominguez was 5-for-11 with two home runs and six RBI. Both home runs keyed Houston victories and were delivered against prime-time pitchers.

On Friday, nursing a sore wrist, Dominguez belted a 98 m.p.h. fast ball from Reds closer Aroldis Chapman over the left field wall spurring a 5-3 comeback win for the Astros. At the time, Chapman boasted a 0.30 ERA and a .113 opponent’s batting average against National League hitters.

After rapping two hits on Saturday, Dominguez launched a three-run home run to left field off Reds right-handed starter Johnny Cueto, a National League Cy Young Award candidate who is now 17-8 with a 2.71 ERA in 29 starts. The home run gave Houston a 4-1 advantage in what ended as a 5-1 victory.

In July, first-year Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow dealt pitchers Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers and J.A. Happ; first baseman Carlos Lee and third baseman Chris Johnson for a haul of promising prospects that includes but is not limited to Dominguez; outfielders Robbie Grossman, Marc Krauss and Bobby Borchering; and pitchers Asher Wojchiechowski, Joseph Musgrove, Rob Rasmussen, Matt Heidenreich and Rudy Owens.

Of the players Luhnow acquired in the other trades this month, Dominguez, Musgrove and Wojciechowski were first round draft picks; and Rasmussen was a second rounder.

Dominguez was the 12th overall selection in the 2007 draft by the Marlins. Houston now has corner infield depth with Dominguez at third, the promising Brett Wallace who can play first and third, and top prospect Jonathan Singleton, who plays first base and left field.

Since joining the Astros last month, Dominguez is batting .350 (14-for-40) with three home runs and seven RBI.