After further review, Carlos kicking Astro

HOUSTON — Carlos Correa was not going back the first time. The second time, the Astros’ shortstop was thrilled to be standing on second base. The 23-year-old hit a home run in the fourth and then delivered a walk-off RBI double as Houston beat the Yankees 2-1 at Minute Maid Park in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. Correa’s line drive double to right gave Jose Altuve a chance to score from first, but only a chance. Correa and the entire ballpark watched with bated breath as the speedy second baseman challenged Judge’s arm. Catcher Gary Sanchez could not control the catch and Altuve scored the winning run.

“It’s the greatest feeling ever. Winning is always fun, but winning in the playoffs and such an important spot is even bigger,” said Correa, “so really glad he was able to score.”

Correa’s homer in the fourth was reviewed in New York because a 12-year-old fan reached over the fence. “I was jogging around the bases and I said, ‘I ain’t going back to second if they review it.’ So I was hoping that the play stands and it stood,” Correa said.

Judge would not have made the catch even without the fan’s reach. “I got back there a little late,” the Yankees right fielder said. “I wasn’t able to get back and get a good read to the wall and get up there and make a play. I just wasn’t able to make the play.”

The play stood and Correa now has three homers this postseason, a franchise record for a shortstop. He became the youngest Astro in a league championship series game at 23 years, 22 days. He is just the fifth player with five career postseason home runs before turning 24, according to the Astros. He joins Evan Longoria, Kyle Schwarber, Andruw Jones and Mickey Mantle.

His double — with the daring baserunning of Altuve — in the ninth sent the Astros to New York with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“As soon as I touched home plate, OK we won the game and we’re up 2-0,” Altuve said. “My teammates are going crazy, the fans going crazy. At the end of the day we are playing for them. We want to do everything we’re doing for them.”

Correa and Altuve are also playing for their native Puerto Rico, still devastated three weeks after Hurricane Maria. Correa remembered his friends, family and fans back in his native country after all the celebrating settled down. “To be able to bring a little bit of joy to the people back home, it means everything,” Correa told Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal after the

game.