Astros honor Correa, spoil return of former star: 'It feels great to be back, see the guys again'

The Houston Astros feted former star Carlos Correa on Tuesday with a hero’s welcome when the latter and his Minnesota Twins arrived for the first of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park, but it was all business once starting pitcher Justin Verlander took the hill at 7:10 p.m.

Correa’s emotional return to the city he had called home since he was a teenager taken first in the 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the Astros; however, was spoiled by his former team beating his current one, 4-2.

According to a report on the Astros’ website, Houston’s victory was highlighted by another stellar effort from the 39-year-old Verlander, who was a teammate of Correa’s from 2017 to last year.

Verlander retired 10 Twins batters, including Correa, through six innings pitched before manager Dusty Baker had him sit midway through the matchup in favor of reliever Ryne Stanek.

The veteran hurler and Cy Young frontrunner had a fourth no-hitter in his grasp until Stanek surrendered a single to Correa himself.

Offensively, the resurging third baseman Alex Bregman’s missile to the Crawford Boxes on the left side of the ballpark, along with runs batted in (RBI) from centerfielder Mauricio Dubon and designated hitter (DH) Trey Mancini, equated to Houston’s four runs on the night.

Citing a report from ESPN, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that the tens of thousands at Minute Maid Park showered Correa, who signed with Minnesota last March, with applause and cheers during pregame festivities in which the star shortstop was presented his 2021 American League (AL) Championship ring.

“It feels great to be back, see the guys again,” Correa said, per the Astros’ website. “It’s a place I played so many games in my career, so many meaningful games. I just feel right, feels great.”

In a move that’ll arguably forever endear him in Houston, Correa and his foundation hosted Mayah Zamora, a young survivor of the Robb Elementary School mass shooting, and her family at the game, per Houston Daily.

Zamora, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was subsequently hospitalized for 66 days, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Houston Daily reported – citing Houston CBS affiliate KHOU – that Correa and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny teamed up to provide the Zamora family with a new home after they learned Zamora was uncomfortable with the fact that the alleged school shooter used to live next to her.

“I could never begin to imagine everything she has gone through, and we feel that this is one thing we could do to try to alleviate some of her pain,” Correa said, per the report. “I’m thankful to both teams for being a part of this effort.”

The Astros will play their penultimate game of their series with Minnesota on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.