Altuve’s Astros:
Houston leans on its second baseman. He continues to deliver.
HOUSTON – Jose Altuve, drenched in champagne and beer with an MVP trophy tucked away in his locker, walked back onto the field Oct. 19, and there she was running toward him.
It was his daughter, 21⁄2-yearold Melanie, jumping into his arms, taking off his cap, placing it back on his head sideways. She picked up a piece of confetti and gave him a kiss.
One day she’ll be told the whole story and fully grasp what happened this night.
Maybe then she’ll truly understand the moment and savor it like every other Astros fan for the rest of their lives.
The night Altuve hit that home run.
With one swing, 5-6 Altuve provided one of the most magical moments in Astros’ franchise history, a two-out, ninthinning homer that lifted them past the Yankees 6-4 and into the World Series.
The 29-year-old was named the AL Championship Series’ MVP for his heroics, batting .348 with two home runs, three RBI and six runs scored in the series.
“It was a Joe Carter-esque home run,” Astros president Reid Ryan said. “He is the best player in baseball.”
And maybe the best to ever wear an Astros’ uniform.
“I’ve said things for five years now, I’ve talked about how great this guy is,” manager A.J. Hinch said, “and he continues to exceed expectations. It’s not easy to deliver the way he does.
“The playoff version of him is spectacular. He’s turned himself into a star in his career here and yet he’s remained humble, he’s remained hungry.
“Everything that’s right about the Astros is Jose Altuve.”
Even Hall of Famer Craig Biggio couldn’t recall a more electrifying moment in franchise history.
“It’s Josey doing Josey things,” Biggio said on the field, with the sellout crowd in no hurry to go home. “Just a remarkable player. Look at the hardware he has at home. When he’s healthy, there’s really nothing he can’t do. He can beat you in every way. With his glove. His speed. His power. He’s incredible.”
How many players could hit the biggest home run of their life and the first thing out of their mouth is giving all of the credit to a teammate, George Springer, for drawing a two-out walk?
“That’s him, that’s Jose Altuve,” said outfielder Josh Reddick.
“I mean, we just had our hearts broken. And he put it back together.”
The Astros were two outs away from winning the ALCS in the top of the ninth, when D.J. LeMahieu hit a home run just beyond the outstretched glove of right fielder Springer, tying the score and silencing the roar of the crowd.
Then the bottom of the ninth came around.
Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees’ All-Star closer, opened the ninth by striking out Martin Maldonado and getting Reddick out on a pop-up.
Then he walked Springer, giving the Astros hope.
Altuve, knowing that Chapman had to be cautious, watched him throw a 98.5 mph fastball for ball one.
Then another, 97.3 mph fastball for ball two.
That’s when Reddick, sitting on the dugout stairs to the far end of the bench, leaned over to Michael Brantley and blurted out: “‘He’s going to win it.’ ”
Chapman, desperate to regain his control, went to his slider, 85.3 mph, for a called strike.
Hinch thought about having Springer steal second, putting him in scoring position so a hit would win the game, but worried about the Yankees intentionally walking Altuve, bringing up light-hitting Jake Marisnick.
“I was kind of thinking, maybe he can hook a ball in the corner,” Hinch said, “and can George score from first? A couple of years ago, we won a game here (off Chapman) by hooking a ball down the corner, so I was thinking maybe we could do the same.”
Chapman, not wanting to fall behind, tried to throw another slider for a strike. It hung over the plate.
Altuve swung with all of his might.
The ball soared 407 feet into the night, high above the left-center-field fence, and the celebratory scream pierced the air, with Chapman standing on the mound with his mouth wide open, saying later, “I was in shock.”
Said Springer, “I just started running, knowing if it didn’t go out, I’ve got to score. I didn’t really remember what happened next. I just had to remember to touch home plate . ...
“There’s not anything he does that doesn’t surprise me anymore. That’s why he is our guy. He’s an unbelievable player, but even a better person, and to have him in that situation is exactly what we wanted.”
This is a player who came up on one of the worst teams in baseball.
The Astros were the laughingstocks of MLB, losing 324 games from 2011 to 2013.
Now, here is Altuve, the heart and soul of a potential AL dynasty. He’s an MVP (2017), a three-time batting champion, a six-time All-Star and a World Series champion.
Now, here are the Astros, four victories away from winning their second World Series championship in three years, facing the Nationals in the World Series.
“This was a great series, an unbelievable series, but the only difference is that we have Jose Altuve,” said Ryan, the club’s president since 2013. “The Yankees didn’t. It’s that simple.”