Carlos Beltran hasn't played the field since May 16th, and has spent most of his time as a designated hitter since returning to the Houston Astros this season. Since he doesn't really need the glove anymore, his Astros teammates decided to lay it to rest. Before last night's game against the Mariners, the team held a funeral out in centerfield, complete with glove coffin, headstones, and Father Brian McCann leading the service.Houston is the best team in the American League by a wide margin, and only the Dodgers have a better overall record, so the Astros are very much in just-having-fun-out-there mode. Beltran, once a great defender in his prime, was smiling and laughing with his teammates as he seemingly acknowledged his days in the outfield are dwindling.But his bat does still work; or, at least, he's used it more often than his glove, anyway. Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Beltran tied the game with his first right-handed home run of the season. He's having a down year (.711 OPS), but he's still got 12 dingers.Unfortunately for the 'Stros, the Mariners pulled off some magic in the ninth and tenth innings. Shortstop Jean Segura made three sterling defenses plays—including throwing a runner out at home, and a lunging stab to end the 9th with the bases loaded—to preserve the tie and send the game to extra innings. In the tenth, Kyle Seager and Danny Valencia homered to take the lead.The Astros lost, 9-7.
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