Clutch Marwin González leads Houston to victory

Marwin González hardly lets his emotions show. If anything, the Astros’ versatile utility man is often teased by teammates for appearing to be mad.

That steady personality and consistency from both sides of the plate and throughout the diamond, though, has served González well while helping him come through in the clutch often for the defending World Series champions.

On a glorious Saturday afternoon at Minute Maid Park for righthander Gerrit Cole, González came through with an opposite-field two-run double to push the Astros to a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over the Indians in Game 2 of the Division Series.

González, who had one of the biggest home runs of the 2017 World Series, was 4-for-4 in Game 2 to tie an Astros record for hits in a postseason game.

“I just try to keep it down,” González said after helping the Astros move within one victory of a three-game sweep in the best-of-five series. “I’m trying to go on the same level if I’m going down or doing good.

“That’s my personality. Everybody is different. That’s just me. They always try to make fun of me because (with) my face I’m looking mad all the time, but that’s who I am.”

Earning Victory

González’s two-run double made a winner out of Cole, who struck out 12 over seven innings of one-run ball against the Indians to join Hall of Famer Tom Seaver as the only men in history to strike out at least 12 without issuing a walk in a postseason game.

Seaver accomplished his feat with 13 strikeouts in Game 1 of the 1973 National League Championship Series.

Cole also joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who was in attendance Saturday, Mike Scott and Justin Verlander as the only Astros to strike out at least 12 batters in a postseason game.

Cole was actually trailing 1-0 before González brought the sellout crowd of 43,520 to life in the sixth inning. Jose Altuve led off the inning with an infield single to third. He slipped heading out of the box, but sprinted to first safely as third baseman Josh Donaldson’s throw sailed toward the railing. Alex Bregman followed with a walk.

One out later, Indians manager Terry Francona called on lefthander Andrew Miller to relieve starting righthander Carlos Carrasco. The switch-hitting González, who started in left field and got his first two hits from the left side, turned to hit righthanded against Miller.

The native of Venezuela then greeted Miller with a two-run double to right field to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.

“For me he’s one of the best players in the league because he could play all the positions very well,” Altuve said of González. “Marwin to me could be an everyday shortstop or an everyday second baseman or left fielder. Truly, it’s impressive what he can do on defense and he can also contribute offensively in the way he did today.”

Contact Man

The four hits in Game 2 were one more than González’s total for the 2017 Division Series, when he went 3-for-15 against the Red Sox last October. González added a single to right in the eighth inning to become just the fifth Astros player to collect four hits in a postseason game.

González has proven to be quite a clutch postseason performer.

With the Astros in danger of falling behind in the 2017 World Series, two games to none last October, he drilled a game-tying solo homer off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth. The Astros eventually won Game 2 in extra innings to even the best-of-seven World Series.

“For us Marwin has a lot of value,” Altuve said. “Last year he hit a home run that to me was the most important of the whole World Series. It kept us in the game. Today batting the way he did to me he’s one of the most incredible players you can have on your team.

“He always stays the same way. He doesn’t show how happy he is, but that doesn’t mean he’s not happy. I’m very proud of what he did today.”

Steady and clutch is good enough for González, whether he smiles to show it or not.

Featured Image: Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport