Tiny Altuve comes up huge for ’Stros

HOUSTON — When A.J. Hinch arrived here in 2015, they weren’t talking about a World Series. They were a year removed from a 105-loss season and coming off yet another losing year. The undersized second baseman walked into the new manager’s office and said it was time to stop.

“One of the first things that (Jose) Altuve told me in my office, that he wanted to win,” Hinch said. “And that represented what the next step was for this organization. And obviously in 2015 we got to taste it a little bit. 2016 we had some disappointment. 2017 we’re going to the World Series.”

The Astros will be making their second World Series appearance and Hinch his first. Righthander Justin Verlander, who pitched a complete game for a win in Game 2 and pitched the Astros off the brink of elimination in Game 6, was named the ALCS MVP.

“It feels great. There’s no other way to put it. It’s so easy to say, yeah, we want to win the World Series. I’ve been very fortunate my entire career to feel like I had a team we had a chance to win a World Series. I’ve only been there twice and that’s over 12-plus years,” Verlander said. “It’s not easy to get here. And I don’t take any of this for granted. And this is what we play for. These are the experiences that you remember at the end of your career when you look back, winning these games, just playing the World Series. Hopefully winning the World Series.”

Verlander, traded over by the Tigers in August, has been here for the push to the finish line, but it is Altuve, who has been the face of this franchise for the rebuild. He was the engine that powered this offense all year and is likely to win the American League MVP.

And it is the 5-foot-5 Altuve who powered the Astros from those losing seasons to the American League pennant this season.

Altuve homered in the 4-0 win over the Yankees Saturday. He has five postseason homers in 2017, the third most by a second baseman in a single postseason, tied with Todd Walker (2003 with the Red Sox) and Davey Lopes (with the Dodgers in 1978). He trails Chase Utley (six in 2009 for the Phillies) and Daniel Murphy (seven in 2015 with the Mets.

And he is the leader that Hinch will lean on heading into the World Series.

“Our guys are battle tested now. We had no question coming in. I think more people had questions about us than we questioned ourselves,” Hinch said. “Now we chase the ultimate prize. There’s two teams standing.”