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HOUSTON -- Prior to Saturday's game, the Astros honored 2011 Minor League Player of the Year Jose Altuve and Pitcher of the Year, right-hander Jake Buchanan. "I feel really good about that," said Altuve, who has 560 combined at-bats with the Astros and in the Minors this season. "In the beginning of the year, I never thought I'd be up here in the big leagues. I really worked hard in the Minor Lea football games gues like I do here. I try to take advantage of every opportunity that they give me, just come here and play hard and see what happens."Altuve led the Minors with a .389 (139-for-357) batting average and has continued to swing a hot bat since getting the callup on July 19, hitting .271 with two homers and 12 RBIs. "What an unbelievable year he's had," Astros manager Brad Mills said of Altuve, who football games entered Saturday's game needing just six hits to reach 200 for the season (139 in the Minors and 55 with the Astros). "I don't care what league you're playing in, that's big. He did a good job in the Minors and he deserved the promotions along the way." Buchanan posted a 5-10 record with Lancaster and pitched seven innings with a no-decision for Double-A Corpus Christi. In 165 2/3 innings of work football games this season, Buchanan struck out 104 while walking 36. He yielded 163 hits, including 10 homers, and 70 earned runs while posting a 3.80 ERA. "It's pretty awesome, and hopefully I can keep the success going next year," Buchanan said. "Last year we won a championship in a short season and this year to get this, everything in pro ball so far has been going well for me." Buchanan said he was surprise football games d to be selected for the award. "I only won five games, but I felt like I pitched pretty decent throughout the whole year," he said. "It's a tough place to pitch in Lancaster." Wallace back in lineup on Saturday HOUSTON -- Brett Wallace made his first start since Sept. 4. Batting fifth in Saturday's starting lineup, Wallace was penciled in at first base with Carlos Lee moving to left field. Wa football games llace is looking to snap an 0-for-28 slump."We need to get Wally some at-bats," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "He's the only guy who hasn't had a start recently. We'd like to get him some at-bats and work on some things." Wallace's last hit prior to Saturday's game was July 23 against the Chicago Cubs. He was the Astros Opening Day first baseman and appeared in 101 games before being optioned to football games Triple-A on July 31, where in 28 games for Oklahoma City he hit .356 (37-for-104) with a .437 OBP. football games
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