HOUSTON — There was shocked disbelief within the Astros clubhouse following their win over the Rangers in Sport 5 of the American League Championship Collection on Friday. The excitement was all about Jose Altuve, whose three-run homer within the ninth inning gave the Astros a 5-4 win, however few had the phrases to explain what that they had simply witnessed.
Everybody agreed, although: Altuve is the most effective clutch hitter that they had seen. Altuve’s third profession house run within the ninth inning or later in a playoff sport — essentially the most in historical past — moved the Astros to inside one win of their third consecutive World Collection berth and solely cemented Altuve’s standing as one of the crucial clutch gamers in postseason historical past.
“No. 1, he needs to be up there,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker stated. “No. 2, he is obtained a excessive focus degree, as a result of that is what it takes in massive moments like that, is focus, need and leisure all encompassed into one. And all people cannot do all three of these issues. This dude is likely one of the baddest dudes I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some greats.”
In Altuve’s one hundredth profession playoff sport in Sport 4 of the ALCS on Thursday, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a stroll and three runs scored. It was his tenth profession postseason sport with a minimum of three hits, tied with Carlos Correa for third in AL/NL historical past behind Derek Jeter (12) and Bernie Williams (12). Altuve’s game-winning homer in Sport 5 on Friday was his twenty sixth profession postseason homer — three behind Manny Ramirez for the AL/NL lead.
“I really feel like that’s simply him,” teammate Alex Bregman stated. “He has a gradual heartbeat. He’s calm below strain. He’s assured in his skill. He’s at all times simply centered and such a beast. Simply such a terrific man. So humble. I can’t say sufficient good issues about him. [Thursday] within the press convention room, I used to be speaking about him, and it’s actually an honor to take the sphere with him each single day and see how he goes about his enterprise. I hope my 14-month-old son [Knox] grows as much as be the person that he’s.”
Amongst postseason performers, Altuve ranks second all-time in runs scored (86); fourth in hits (113), extra-base hits (46) and whole bases (211); fifth in doubles (20) and tied for seventh in RBIs (54). He’s performed in additional playoff video games than 18 franchises have of their historical past.
“He needs to be within the second,” teammate Martín Maldonado stated. “He’s going to be a Corridor of Famer.”
In honor of the Astros’ seven consecutive ALCS appearances, listed below are Altuve’s greatest playoff homers:
1. Stroll-off homer in Sport 6 of the 2019 ALCS
One of the vital memorable moments in Astros historical past, Altuve despatched Houston to its second World Collection in three seasons with a walk-off house run towards Aroldis Chapman and the Yankees. It was the sixth walk-off homer to clinch a pennant in Main League historical past.
2. Three-run homer within the ninth inning in Sport 5 of the 2023 ALCS
Trailing by two runs coming into the ninth, Yainer Diaz singled and Jon Singleton walked to set the stage for Altuve, who hit an 0-1 changeup from José Leclerc over the left-field wall for a dramatic three-run house run to win the sport and provides the Astros a 3-2 benefit within the collection.
3. Sport-tying three-run homer in Sport 5 of the 2017 World Collection
After Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer within the fifth to offer the Dodgers a 7-4 lead, Altuve socked a three-run homer off Kenta Maeda to tie the sport at 7. The Astros received, 13-12, in 10 innings.
4. Three-homer sport towards Boston in Sport 1 of the 2017 ALCS
Altuve grew to become simply the ninth participant in AL/NL playoff historical past to slug three homers in a sport when he did it towards the Purple Sox. Altuve linked twice off Boston ace Chris Sale and as soon as towards reliever Austin Maddox at Minute Maid Park. All three had been solo pictures.
5. House run in tenth inning of Sport 2 of the 2017 World Collection
The primary go-ahead forward house run of Altuve’s profession within the ninth inning or later, he and Correa went back-to-back to interrupt a tie towards the Dodgers in a sport the Astros finally received, 7-6, in additional innings.
6. First-pitch homer in Sport 1 of the 2023 ALDS
Altuve, who didn’t have an RBI in any of Houston’s 13 postseason video games final season, crushed the primary pitch he noticed from Twins starter Bailey Ober and homered to left. His eight first-inning playoff homers are essentially the most of any participant in historical past.
7. Sport-tying homer in Sport 4 of 2021 ALCS
Trailing, 2-1, within the eighth inning in a collection the Astros trailed, 2-1, Altuve led off with a homer off Garrett Whitlock at Fenway Park to tie the sport. The Astros scored seven runs within the ninth for the primary of three consecutive wins to clinch the pennant.