Altuve’s 3 homers lift Astros; Indians top Yankees
HOUSTON — Jose Altuve had just arrived in the Astros’ dugout after launching his third home run of the game when George Springer grabbed his right biceps and examined it, as if searching for an explanation for Altuve’s extraordinary pop.
“He makes sure he stays on top of his gym routine, whatever it is,” Springer said. “The dude is just a joke.”
The major-league batting champion put on a show Thursday as Houston roughed up Chris Sale and the Red Sox 8-2 in Game 1 of the AL Division Series. Game 2 is Friday, with Dallas Keuchel starting for the Astros against Drew Pomeranz.
Buoyed by chants of “MVP” in each trip to the plate, Altuve, a 5-foot-6 second baseman, hit solo homers in the first and fifth innings off Sale. Altuve connected again in the seventh off reliever Austin Maddox to give Houston a quick boost in the best-of-five series.
“As soon as I cross the white line, I feel the same size as everyone else,” Altuve said.
It was the 10th time a player hit three homers in a postseason game, and the first since Pablo Sandoval for the Giants in the 2012 World Series opener against Detroit. Babe Ruth did it twice.
“I told him the last time I’ve seen three home runs in a game was Pablo Sandoval and I gave up two of them, so I’m glad there’s somebody new that’s done it,” said Houston starter Justin Verlander, who pitched six innings for the win.
Altuve became the first Houston player to hit three homers in one game since 2007, when Carlos Lee did it — in the regular season. Altuve seemed as surprised as anyone else that he was now in a category with the Sultan of Swat, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols.
“I hit one and I was like, ‘Wow,’ ” he said. “And the second one is like, ‘Wow, what’s going on here?’ ”
And his thoughts after the third? “I’ve got to wake up,” he said, flashing a huge grin.
Altuve’s teammates goaded him into taking a curtain call after the third homer. And as he tipped his hat to the crowd, one fan near the dugout held a sign that proclaimed in blue block letters: “That Kid Can Hit.”
Verlander improved to 6-0 since Houston got him in an Aug. 31 trade with Detroit. He is 5-0 with a 2.24 ERA in nine career Division Series starts.
Sale, the major-league strikeout leader, was tagged for seven runs in five-plus innings of his postseason debut.
Alex Bregman and Altuve hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, making Sale look a bit rattled. The Red Sox tied it with a run each in the second and fourth. Sale, though, did not get into a rhythm and was chased after walking Josh Reddick with no outs in the sixth.
The lefty was tagged for nine hits and matched a season high for most runs allowed.
“Anytime he mis-located, particularly in the middle of the plate, they made him pay for it. ... And then his slider was hit and miss today,” manager John Farrell said.
Boston designated hitter Eduardo Nuñez was carried off the field in the first inning with a right knee injury after pulling up running to first base on a groundout in the first and falling. The Red Sox said the former Giants infielder aggravated a knee injury that had kept him out of 19 of Boston’s last 20 regular-season games. They removed him from the postseason roster and added outfielder Chris Young.