Altuve’s mad dash lifts Houston
By Kristie Rieken
HOUSTON — With each stinging line drive, Jose Altuve is putting his stamp on this October. Same with every pitch from Justin Verlander, no matter the inning or score.
Houston’s longest-tenured player and its durable new right-hander: an incomparable pair this postseason.
Altuve raced home on Carlos Correa’s double in the ninth inning, Verlander struck out 13 in a complete game and the Astros beat the Yankees 2-1 Saturday for a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.
Correa also homered, but Houston needed a daring dash from Altuve, a 5-foot-6 second baseman, to get Verlander a win. Altuve, an AL MVP front-runner, reached with a one-out single against closer Aroldis Chapman, then sprinted around from first base on Correa’s shot to rightcenter field. Shortstop Didi Gregorius’ relay beat Altuve to the plate, but catcher Gary Sanchez misplayed a short hop, allowing Altuve to slide past safely.
“When I saw him running, I was like, ‘Oh, God,’ ” Correa said. “And then obviously he beat it out.”
Altuve had two more hits and is 13-for-23 (.565) this postseason after going 4-for-26 (.154) in the 2015 playoffs.
“He’s unbelievable,” Verlander said. “The guy does everything.”
Verlander improved to 8-0 in eight appearances with Houston since agreeing to an Aug. 31 trade from the Tigers, including his Game 4 win in relief during the Division Series against Boston. He has a 2.04 ERA over a post -season leading 172⁄3 innings.
“When I decided to say yes, these are the moments that you envision,” Verlander said of agreeing to the trade. “You don’t envision going 5-0 in the regular season once you get here, that’s all fine and great, but that’s not why I was brought here. I was brought here to help this team win a championship.”
Verlander set a postseason career best for strikeouts and allowed five hits in his second career complete game in the playoffs. He threw a seasonhigh 124 pitches and retired Aaron Judge, Sanchez and Greg Bird in the top of the ninth.
“This is such a big moment for our team, but he put us on his back today with his pitching,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
In the bottom of the ninth, Judge picked up Correa’s hit in right field and threw toward second base. Gregorius fielded it there, and his throw beat Altuve to the plate by a few steps. Sanchez just couldn’t squeeze the onehopper.
“That’s a play I’m used to making,” Sanchez said through a translator. “Really thought I had a chance at making that play there. Unfortunately, I dropped the ball and couldn’t make that play.”
The Astros mobbed Correa in shallow center field while Altuve pointed and smiled from near home plate.
Houston took its first-ever 2-0 lead in a Championship Series in front of a crowd of 43,193, which included Houston Rockets players James Harden, Chris Paul and Trevor Ariza in front-row seats. Minute Maid Park buzzed throughout, and fans let out a huge cheer when Hinch sent out Verlander to pitch the ninth.
“No words were necessary,” Verlander said. “It was my game to win or lose.”