Alvarez’s swing helps Astros top Seattle
Rookie Alvarez’s scorching bat, Cole’s dominance complete Mariners sweep
Yordan Alvarez looks more like an All-Star than a rookie. The two games he missed because of a sore knee only briefly delayed the assault on pitchers he continued Sunday.
The 6-5 designated hitter, two days past his 22nd birthday and batting fourth, provided all the offense the Astros needed to complete a three-game sweep of the Mariners. He drove in the first three runs on two line drives to set up the 6-1 victory at Minute Maid Park.
With the Astros trailing 1-0 in the first inning, George Springer’s aggressive baserunning jump-started the comeback. He ran first to third on a single that Jose Altuve poked out of leaping second baseman Tim Beckham’s reach. Alex Bregman walked.
That left Mariners starter Mar
co Gonzales to deal with Alvarez with the bases loaded. A lefty-onlefty matchup typically favors the pitcher, but it seems not to matter when Alvarez bats.
Gonzales hung a breaking ball. Alvarez, pulling in his hands, ripped it for a two-run double to right field that put the Astros ahead.
“To answer right there really gave us momentum,” said Astros starter Gerrit Cole, whose first-inning ERA rose to 5 because of a home run by J.P. Crawford.
In his next at-bat, Alvarez pulled another hit to right, letting Bregman, who had tripled, trot in to score.
Cole lauded Alvarez, who is from Cuba, for showing professionalism uncommon for a foreign-born rookie navigating his first major league clubhouse.
“He’s been special so far,” Cole said. “Fun to watch. Great attitude. Professional approach at the ballpark. Unique to see that out of a guy from another country, to have that kind of poise. Not afraid of the big moment.”
Alvarez has posted daunting numbers in his first 69 plate appearances: 19 hits, nine walks, seven home runs, 21 RBIs and a 1.139 OPS.
“He’s a difference-maker in the middle of the order when he gets pitches to hit,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He hits them hard.”
His hits Sunday left his bat at 110.3 and 108.4 mph. He has struck balls for exit velocities greater than 108 mph nine times this season, which is more than every teammate but Carlos Correa (15) and Springer (14).
Even Alvarez’s out Sunday was scorched. He lined out at 96.2 mph to right field.
By his fourth at-bat, with Altuve on second and two outs, the Mariners had had enough of Alvarez. Though behind by two runs, they preferred to intentionally walk the rookie than take their chances.
“Very happy,” Alvarez said through the team interpreter. “It’s an incredible feeling. I’m happy I’ve done the work to get to this point.”
Hinch said Alvarez was bothered by his knee and is unlikely to play the field during the next series in Colorado against the Rockies.
Before Sunday, Gonzales (9-7) had pitched at least five innings and allowed two or fewer runs in his previous four starts. The Astros forced him to exhaust 104 pitches and exit after five innings.
After allowing a homer to the second hitter of the game and walking the third, Cole (8-5, 3.28 ERA) shut down the Mariners. He retired 18 of 22 batters — 10 on strikeouts — without allowing another run or walk in seven innings. It was his ninth start with double-digit strikeouts.
“Completely dominant,” Hinch said. “He executed almost flawlessly and finished his outing throwing 100.”
Cole knew the seventh inning, which he reached for just the second time in his past 11 starts, would be his last. With is 109th and final pitch, he struck out Beckham on a 100.3 mph fastball.
“I run out of things to say about outings like this where he’s in cruise control, he’s executing,” Hinch said. “If he missed, he missed barely.”
In the eighth, Collin McHugh left two runners on base for Ryan Pressly to strand with a strikeout. Josh James struck out the side in the ninth.
On Sunday morning, Hinch had Cole break from his pregame routine to join a team meeting in which the manager would announce the latest additions to the the American League All-Star team.
Cole hesitated: “Do I want to be in there? It would be not good to not make it and then have to go play.”
Hinch smiled back reassuringly at Cole, who, along with reliever Ryan Pressly and starter Justin Verlander, were voted in by players to be in the All-Star Game.
“It was a nice vibe going into the game,” Cole said.