Altuve Puts the Astros One Win Closer Towards Another AL Pennant

The Astros push the Rangers to the brink of elimination as they head back to Houston and are one win away from clinching another trip to the World Series. After being down 2-0 in the series the Astro’s hopes of repeating as champions began to diminish, but after winning back-to-back games in Globe Life Field, the Astros came into Game 5 with a lot of momentum.

By far the best game in the postseason, Game 5 of the ALCS had everything. From lead changes, multiple go-ahead home runs, and a pimp job on a homer to benches being cleared and players and managers being tossed, the game was electric. 

Game 5 started with an early bang as Alex Bregman connected on a first-inning home run to set the tone. Justin Verlander was dealing through the first four innings, but the Rangers would crack him in the 5th inning with a game-tying home run from Nathaniel Lowe. Houston would answer back in the top of the sixth with an RBI single from Jose Abreu, but the Rangers would escape the inning only giving up one run as both Chas McCormick and Jeremy Pena couldn’t knock in anymore with the bases loaded.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Rangers got two runners on with Adolis Garcia stepping up to the plate. For two straight games, Rangers fans didn’t have much to cheer for, but Garcia would change that with one crack of the bat as he launched Verlander’s 95 mph four-seam fastball to left field to send Globe Life Field into a frenzy. Not only did Garcia help the Rangers take a 4-2 lead, but he also had a pimp job for the ages as he casually walked his way to first base. His stats for this game should only show:  a go-ahead three-run home run, 108 mph off his bat, 10 seconds of walking after the ball was hit, and 13 seconds passing before reaching first base. Impressive. 

The home run would bounce Verlander from the game and put the Rangers nine outs away from taking a 3-2 series lead. After a quiet seventh inning, the energy would rise again in the bottom of the eighth as Garcia would step into the box again. After the relief pitcher Bryan Abreu walked Evan Carter, Garcia would have a runner on with no outs. Abreu would drill Garcia in the upper arm with a high and inside fastball causing the benches to clear. After the umpires got the teams separated they decided to throw Abreu, Garcia, and Astros’ manager Dusty Baker out of the game. In my opinion, throwing anyone out was a little ridiculous. I don’t think Houston intentionally wanted to hit Garcia, however, they definitely wanted to send a message to him and pitch inside, but Abreu’s pitch got a little away from him and beamed Garcia. Down two runs in Game 5 of the ALCS you aren’t gonna put two runners on with no outs on purpose. Maybe if you were down by more than seven runs, but not by two. The funniest part of this whole situation was Dusty Baker with his arms crossed not leaving the bench for several minutes after being thrown out. 

After all the tomfoolery the Rangers wouldn’t capitalize with two runners on and nobody out so the game went into the top of the ninth with a 4-2 Rangers lead. The Astros got two runners on with no outs to set up Altuve for another postseason moment. On an 0-1 pitch Altuve would hit a go-ahead three-run homer that barely cleared the left field fence. Just like that in a span of four innings, Globe Life Field went from madness to silence. 

The Astros would head into the bottom of the ninth with a 5-4 lead, but the Rangers would threaten with two base runners of their own to start the inning. However, Houston’s closer Ryan Pressly would get the Astros out of the jam and end the game on a strikeout to put the team up 3-2 in the ALCS. 

Altuve’s home run now puts him second all-time for postseason homers with 26. He is only three away from the top spot which is held by Manny Ramirez. Altuve could very well surpass Ramirez this postseason. 

Now heading back to Minute Maid Park, the Astros look to win their fifth pennant in the last seven years.