Bregman’s surprising return sparks big rally

HOUSTON — In a surprising twist to the Astros’ come-from-behind, 8-4 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night, Alex Bregman returned to action in the bottom of the sixth and made an immediate impact, hitting a game-tying RBI single off Felix Hernandez in his first Major League appearance as a pinch-hitter.

“That might’ve been more nerve-wracking than my first at-bat here,” Bregman said. “I don’t know. It felt weird, but it felt good at the end.”

Bregman, who’s been recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for two weeks, wasn’t listed among the available players for Tuesday’s game. In fact, he had a flight booked for Florida to get rehab and instructional league at-bats.

“I don’t think he’ll make that one,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch joked.

But the rookie third baseman made his return in a big way, sending Felix Hernandez’s 80.8 mph curveball into shallow center field to bring home Yulieski Gurriel and tie the game at 4.

The hit helped kickstart a game-changing rally for the …

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