El Capitan Altuve leads Astros to another World Series berth
HOUSTON – The orange rally towels were barely starting to flutter again as the shaken sellout crowd at Minute Maid Park started to come out of its collective shock when El Capitan José Altuve strolled to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night.
The Yankees’ DJ LaMahieu had stunned the Astros with a game-tying, two-run homer in the top of the ninth, extending Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. Altuve is no stranger to overcoming delays, though.
He has a history of overcoming them with the resolve that prompted him to keep coming back to the Astros’ Venezuelan academy as a diminutive teenager after the organization originally deemed him too short to sign as an international free agent.
Former Astros official Al Pedrique fibbed Altuve’s height to persuade the organization to sign him out of Venezuela, and on Saturday Altuve reminded the baseball world why he’s one of the giants of the game and one of the greatest Astros of all-time.
Altuve is such a master with the bat, the hottest pitcher on the planet, Gerrit Cole, sat in the dugout in the bottom of the ninth inning and predicted that the former AL MVP would win it after George Springer drew a two-out walk. Never mind that All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman was on the mound firing 100-mph missiles.
Cole wasn’t the only one anticipating greatness. Even the two greatest figures in Astros history – Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio – were confident when Altuve strolled to the plate about four hours after catching the ceremonial first pitch from Biggio.
Altuve sent the sellout crowd into a frenzy and the Astros into their second World Series appearance in three years by drilling Chapman’s 2-1 slider for a walk-off, two-run home run.
“It’s going to go down as one of the greatest Astros moments in our history,” Astros president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow said after the 6-4 victory.
As fireworks went off behind the railroad tracks atop the facade overlooking the left field wall and confetti shot into the stands, Altuve rounded the bases without too much exuberance. He acted as though he’d been there before many times, which he definitely has.
“He means everything to us,” Astros closer Roberto Osuna said of Altuve. “I think when you mention the Astros, the first name that comes to your mind is Jose Altuve. He’s our captain. He’s one of the best players we have, and he showed it.”
The 5-foot-6, 168-pound Altuve already appeared to be the frontrunner for the ALCS MVP Award before his walk-off blast. If there were any doubts, however, he sealed it with that majestic blow to left.
He hit .348 with two home runs and three RBI and a team-high six runs scored to help the Astros beat the Yankees, four games to two, in the best-of-seven ALCS to earn a shot at the National League champion Washington Nationals.
“Well, first of all Springer’s walk was the key because it creates some momentum,” Altuve said. “He puts a lot of pressure on the other team. I was facing Aroldis Chapman, which is one of the best closers in the league. Nothing is easy with him.
“They just hit a homer and I hoped I (didn’t) get to face him again because he’s that good. But at the same time I was just (looking for) something I can drive. I have my game plan, I wasn’t trying to hit a homer I was just thinking to hit the ball hard, get on base and keep the momentum. Thank God the ball went out and we won the game.”
Don’t let Altuve’s modesty fool you.
The 2017 AL MVP was born for these moments. The three-time American League batting champion, six-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger Award winner is the unquestioned leader in a clubhouse full of superstars.
He’s more old school and reserved than some of his younger teammates, but that only endears him more to his teammates.
“The thoughts before when they tied it was a little painful,” Astros owner Jim Crane said. “I knew when (Chapman) got behind in the count that he was going to put something in there.
“You never underestimate Altuve. He’s a clutch guy, and he’s had some big plays and some big home runs here in this ballpark. He delivered. It’s unbelievable.”
Actually, it’s no longer unbelievable when Altuve delivers. It’s actually expected.
Cole and fellow Astros pitcher Wade Miley actually predicted Altuve’s blast a few seconds before he drilled it.
“It takes a lot of preparation and a lot of guts to have that type of cool mentality,” Cole said of Altuve. “I looked at Wade, I think (when it was), 2-0 (in the count) and I was like, ‘Man if he throws anything down, down and in, it’s going out.
“And Wade’s like, ‘It’s going out to right.’ I’m like, ‘It’s not going out to right. It’s going to left, and it’s going deep.’ I guess it was a backdoor slider and he still pulled it out to left. So I was only right on like two-thirds of it.”
Now, Altuve and the 2017 champion Astros are headed for their second World Series in three years. They want to take it back, as the franchise has proclaimed as their slogan all season.
They’re back in the biggest stage with Altuve leading the way. Again.
“He’s just steady,” Crane said of Altuve. “He doesn’t look for the attention. He just plays and plays and gets big hits. He had two big hits tonight, and the whole series he was unbelievable. He’s the anchor of the team, and he’s great.”
Featured Image: Alex Trautwig / Major League Baseball