Triple-A stint works wonders for Fields

KANSAS CITY -- Josh Fields hit rock bottom on May 6.

The Astros reliever allowed six hits and five runs in just two-thirds of an inning against the Tigers.

The outing was far from an outlier either.

From April 23 to his implosion versus Detroit, Fields allowed a whopping 14 earned runs in just three innings.

A ticket to Triple-A Oklahoma City followed.

"I looked at it as more a time to refocus and kind of get back in that mindset that I needed to be in," Fields said. "I thought it was a great opportunity, and I was excited to learn and try to get better."

Thus far, Fields has returned a changed man.

With another shutout inning on Monday against the Royals, Fields extended his scoreless streak to six innings since being recalled on May 17.

During that stretch, Fields allowed just one hit and notched 10 strikeouts.

"I think I was pressing a little too much before that, trying to do a little too much, getting out of what I do to be successful," Fields said. "I just tried to relax and have fun when I went down there, and when I came back up here I just tried to carry that over."