The Astros and Star Players Return to the Road


HOUSTON — He was 3 in 29 since the start of the American League Championship Series when Jose Altuve stepped onto the plate to begin the end of the first half in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night. This included his 5v0 performance at the World Series opening against Atlanta on Tuesday.

Not that Altuve would try but there was no way to hide the ugliness. Altuve, the lead hitter for a Houston Astros franchise tainted by the 2017-2018 cheating scandal, has learned that he can’t hide as fans make their way back to the stadiums this season. It has been the primary target of rival fans all year. He can’t help but keep his head down, take it and keep moving forward.

So in Game 2, when a Max Fried doubled his fastball onto the left court and then sent a Drew Smyly fastball over the left field wall on the seventh inning to punctuate Houston’s 7-2 evening of series win, it was as if the Astros had an old ball. as if welcoming a friend again.

“This is what pros do,” said Houston manager Dusty Baker. “When you know you can play, you have to play. You have no choice.

“Daddy used to tell me it’s okay to come down. Just don’t stay down. That’s why he didn’t stay on the ground.”

This is Altuve’s sixth season ending and third World Series. A former winner of the AL Most Valuable Player Award (2017) and a seven-time All-Star. He became ALCSMVP (2019) and won a three-stroke championship. Altuve knows how to do it.

So when he regained his balance, it could put his team at ease more than he did.

“He sets a really good example as a teammate,” said Houston starting pitcher Jose Urquidy, via translator Andrew Dunn-Bauman. “Even when he talks to us or just watches him play, he sets a really good example and brings really great energy and leadership to the team.

“So we’re trying to get as much from him as we can.”

Altuve, 31, has been doing this long enough at this time of year, and the seventh homer, who is 22nd in the postseason, tied former Yankee Bernie Williams for second place in major league history. Only Manny Ramirez (29) had more hits.

“He’s obviously a great hitter,” Altuve said of Williams. “Being 22 homers in the playoffs and tying him up, always, always by my side – before Derek Jeter, now Bernie Williams – means a lot to me. They help me keep doing things like this, helping my team with homers’ It makes me shoot.

“Everything is fine as long as we win.”

The Astros are definitely getting their fair share of winning, even if their only World Series victory in 2017 remains tainted. Tiing the series 1-1 as they swing into Atlanta for Game 3 on Friday night, the Astros remain in a prime position. Add another mug to their showcase.

It was a beautiful night in Houston after a severe storm Wednesday morning with a hurricane warning. When Altuve doubled the lead in the first lap, it was 73 degrees and the roof of Minute Maid Park was open. The last post-season was in Games 3 and 4 against the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series.

The Astros prefer the roof closed as it amplifies the noise produced by their fans. This time, however, they agreed to MLB’s request.

He was different. It was nice. And it worked for Altuve and the Astros.

“We didn’t want to go to Atlanta by two margins,” he said. “So we left everything we had there tonight.”

Altuve’s teammate Jose Siri put on a show on a podium for news conferences by removing two gaudy rings and placing them on Altuve’s fingers as the two Astros laughed.

When someone asked what it was, Altuve grinned and said, “He’s giving me his ring so I can shine, some glitter, bling.”

His evening started with a flash on the plate and ended that way. Finally, things have mostly returned to normal in Houston.



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