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Drew Smyly pitched into the seventh inning and visiting Atlanta defeated Washington. Zack Wheeler tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout and host Philadelphia completed a four-game sweep over Milwaukee. It was Altuve's second homer of the season and first since April 8 against Oakland. Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman listens to the National Anthem before Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve steps on home plate after hitting a solo home run to give the Astros a 2-0 lead during the fourth inning of Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 at Truist Park in Atlanta. The Houston second baseman went opposite field on a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 7 of the ALCS on Saturday night to put his team up 2-0. Cesar Hernandez and Rene Rivera each had three hits for Cleveland.
Jose Altuve
Houston won Game 4 of the 2020 ALDS by a comfortable margin, beating Oakland 11-6 to clinch the series. Altuve's two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh capped an 11-run explosion for the Astros between the fourth and seventh innings. The Houston Astros bench reacts as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning as the Houston Astros take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 in Houston.
In the top of the first, Altuve hit a first-pitch, solo homer off Luis Severino, giving the Astros a 1-0 lead in a game they won 4-1. After splitting the first two games at home, it was a burst of energy that put the Astros on a path to a string of wins. Although they lost Game 4 on Saturday, the Astros are 17-5 in the playoffs when Altuve homers.
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Altuve concluded the 2017 campaign by playing in 153 contests with an MLB-leading and career-best .346 batting average, an AL-leading 204 hits, a major-league leading 30 infield hits, 39 doubles, 32 stolen bases, 24 home runs, and 84 RBI. He led all MLB hitters in batting average against right-handers, at .344. The Astros finished with a 101−61 record, clinching the AL West division. Altuve became just the fifth hitter since integration in 1947 to record four straight 200-hit seasons, following Wade Boggs (1983−89), Kirby Puckett (1986−89), Suzuki (2001−2010), and Michael Young (2003−07). He also became the first hitter in Major League history to solely lead his respective league in hits for four years in a row while also collecting his third career batting title. Suzuki technically led the AL in hits from 2006 to 2010, but tied with Dustin Pedroia in 2008.
Houston responded by pummeling them for 10 runs in Chicago to clinch the ALDS in four games. There have been more critical home runs by Altuve in the postseason, given that the Astros already led by four when he came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh of Game 2 of the 2021 World Series. Nonetheless, it's still a home run in the Fall Classic, and one that served as the final score in a 7-2 Houston victory. Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by teammate Carlos Correa #1 after his solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning in game five of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 10, 2019 in Houston. José Altuve was given three minutes in the first round of the Venezuelan Home Run Derby on Monday, and he went without a single long ball.
2017 ALDS Game 1 vs Boston at Minute Maid Park
With runners on first and third and one out, Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel hit a chopper to shortstop Dansby Swanson, who appeared to throw in time for a force out at second base to Ozzie Albies. But the Braves’ second baseman missed the catch, and Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker was ruled safe. The call was upheld after a Braves challenge, even after the Fox broadcast booth predicted that Tucker would be called out. On July 4, 2021, after finishing as the runner-up AL second baseman in fan voting, Altuve was named to his seventh All-Star Game, tying the Astros franchise record with Craig Biggio for the most career All-Star game selections. Prior to the 2018 season, Sports Illustrated ranked Altuve as the #2 player in baseball, trailing only Trout. On March 16, 2018, Altuve and the Astros agreed to a five-year, $151 million contract extension that would span the 2020–24 seasons.
He yielded four ground-ball singles to the final four hitters in Houston’s order. An Eddie Rosario throwing error and questionable positioning betrayed Fried, but such is life against the Astros. Opponents had a .522 OPS against him in 93 innings after the All-Star break. His two regular-season shutouts were more than any major league starter. He struck out 8.6 batters per nine innings and threw six innings in 19 of his 28 regular-season starts.
Willie Calhoun went 2-for-4 and singled in designated runner Jonah Heim with the winning run in the 10th inning to give Texas a victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Astros had runners at first and third against Chad Green (0-3) when Altuve came up to another round of profane chants from the limited capacity crowd. After fouling off a fastball, the second baseman hammered a full-count fastball into the left-field seats.
The teams combined to use 14 pitchers in a drawn-out game that lasted 4 hours, 9 minutes. Astros ace Gerrit Cole was waiting to pitch a potential Game 7 on Sunday. Instead, the postseason star — undefeated since May 22 — can be lined up for Game 1 at home against the NL champion Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Altuve homered off Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth inning and Houston outlasted the New York Yankees 6-4 Saturday night to advance to the World Series for the second time in three years. Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates with Alex Bregman #2 after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2017 in Houston. Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (#27) celebrates a home run in game 7 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Miguel Rojas also homered on a 2-for-4 night as his Marlins earned their first three-game home sweep since May 17-19, 2019, over the New York Mets. Adam Duvall hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, helping host Miami complete a sweep over Arizona. The Astros salvaged the finale of the emotionally charged series thanks to Altuve, whose second hit of the day gave Houston a 5-3 lead. Sometimes more than others, but just keep swinging to make something happen." Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel watches batting practice before Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve comes back out of the dugout to celebrate his third solo home run of the game during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the ALDS at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, in Houston. Altuve hit home runs in the first, fifth and seventh innings to become just the 10th player to hit three post season home runs in one game. It was Altuve's 19th post-season home run, tying former teammate George Springer for the most in franchise history.
Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker catches a fly out from Atlanta Braves center fielder Adam Duvall to end the top of the fourth inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies loses the ball as Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker slides safely into second during the sixth inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Houston Astros center fielder Jose Siri and Houston Astros relief pitcher Kendall Graveman celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves 7-2 during Game 2 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in Houston.
Altuve returned to Venezuela to play for Navegantes del Magallanes, based in Valencia, Carabobo, in the Venezuelan Winter League. He hit .339 with a .381 on-base percentage and a .455 slugging percentage. Altuve finished 2011 with 898 aggregated plate appearances, including 391 in the minors, 234 with Houston, and 273 with the Magallanes. Altuve had 82 hits in winter league, bringing his cumulative year-end count to 282. It's the third time Houston has eliminated New York in the past five postseasons.
He was also the first second baseman and first Astro ever to win it. For the second consecutive season, he won the Players Choice Awards for Major League Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player. He won his fourth consecutive and overall Silver Slugger Award at second base. After a strong 2007 season in the Venezuelan Summer League in which he hit .343, Altuve moved to the United States in 2008 and hit .284 in 40 games for the Greeneville Astros in the Rookie-level Appalachian League.
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