SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE AIR
With downtown rocking and the Astros having the kind of fun winning brings, there’s a sense of big things ahead
It was impossible not to feel it in Minute Maid Park on Friday afternoon.
The Astros had done it again. For the second straight day, they defeated the Red Sox 8-2, improving to 2-0 in the American League Division Series.
The capacity crowd was loud, on its feet, chanting for shouldbe MVP Jose Altuve.
Mayor Sylvester Turner threw the first pitch, Bun B yelled out “Play ball!”
The city’s other bearded hero, James Harden, sat behind home plate cheering on the most exciting team in Houston right now.
The sun was shining through the glass panes while the train stayed busy on its track above the outfield of the ballpark.
Downtown Houston was rocking.
It feels like the Astros are going to be playing a lot more baseball.
There’s an energy flowing through the city that comes only when a team legitimately has a chance to win a title.
Sure, there has been talk since April of the Astros having what it takes to play until November this year.
But after two dominating performances to kick off the playoffs, it seems more realistic than ever.
If their 101-win regular season wasn’t enough to convince anyone that the Astros have what it takes, their first two postseason appearances should.
It’s a cliché in sports — a team needs to be clicking at the right time. The Astros are doing that.
The Astros have won only two games in the playoffs, but after Thursday and Friday, it feels like they’ve accomplished more.
‘Playoffs are the best’
The way they won — with contributions from every player — made them look like the best team in baseball.
And they did that two days in a row.
“Those were two good, quality team wins where everybody did something on both sides of the ball,” outfielder George Springer said. “That’s what you want. We are having fun, playing hard and really enjoying it.
“Playoffs are the best.”
The Astros head to Boston now — to a ballpark full of tradition, a hostile environment with passionate fans.
It won’t be easy to close out the series at Fenway Park.
But if the Astros play the way they did at home Thursday and Friday, it might not be that difficult, either.
They picked apart Red Sox pitchers, including ace Chris Sale. They made defensive play after defensive play. They got what they needed from their starters and could lean with confidence on their bullpen.
“We have everyone healthy,” said Altuve who was 5-for-7 in the first two games with three home runs and four RBIs. “Everyone is playing hard. I feel really good about the way we’ve been playing.”
He isn’t the only one. The Astros all carry a quiet confidence.
While being clearly focused, they also are at ease and having fun.
The goals are clear. This team is hungry for more. But they are genuinely enjoying playing together and for each other.
“It’s key,” Altuve said. “You have to have fun and go out there and do what we do. This is the kind of energy we need to win this series. We have to keep this up.”
As good as the 2-0 lead is, the Astros aren’t getting ahead of themselves. There’s work to be done.
“It hasn’t gotten us anywhere yet other than in a good position moving into Game 3,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We won’t take anything for granted. This is a team that’s very, very laser-focused on winning the series. You don’t win the series with two wins; you win it with three.”
‘A ton of confidence’
That being said, it sure looks like the Astros can pick up that third win.
Brad Peacock will start Game 3 in Boston on Sunday.
“We have a ton of confidence in him,” catcher Brian McCann said. “He’s done everything he’s been asked to do all season. I feel great with him starting.”
And after the last two days, they know he will have help offensively.
The Astros had 24 hits over the two games. They hit six home runs. There’s plenty of reason to be confident.
If their 2-0 lead isn’t enough, they can look to just over a week ago, when they went to Boston and won three of four games to finish the regular season.
This series isn’t over yet. The Astros have to go to Fenway Park and win a game.
Nothing is a given. But it’s hard not to feel like they have this under control.
It’s hard not to feel like something special is brewing.
Houston should expect more baseball.
The Astros look like they’ll be playing awhile.