Three things were spoken on Thursday in the Houston Astros locker room.
Jose Altuff, a second team officer for Houston, bounced to his right on a ball hit by Julio Rodriguez at the top of the third inning, with Seattle’s JB Crawford at second base and on both occasions. He then performed an acrobatic throw to end the inning. The first two “jump shots” Altuve made in a row increased the Astros’ chances of winning and served to emphasise to Houston manager Dusty Baker how important defence is.
Your Don, Alvarez
It was one thing for Alvarez to beat Seattle in Game 1 with a two-out, three-run walk-off home run. The Astros slugger was hit by a center-cut pitch from left-handed Mariners pitcher Robbie Ray, who was making an ill-advised relief appearance.
Thursday was a completely different day.
With only five balls out of the infield and a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning thanks to a solo home run by Kyle Tucker, Castillo was cruising.
But youngster Jeremy Pea matched his ninth-inning single from Game 1 that came before Alvarez’s walk-off, becoming the second player in as many games to get a game-changing hit. This time, it ended a streak of 13 straight Astros Castillo retired, beginning with Tucker’s home run in the third inning.
Alvarez was next summoned up, and Castillo pitched him correctly, starting with a sinker off the plate at 98 mph that Alvarez fouled off. He threw him almost exactly the same pitch, which was well off the plate by two inches.
This time, knowing that the short porch in left field beckoned, he stayed on the ball and blasted it to left field as opposed to his Game 1 winner, which was a missile he jerked to right field. The Crawford Boxes received the ball with ease.
Astros manager Dusty Baker referred to Alvarez as “Grandé” because of his propensity for big outings.
missing lead Series is almost done. The next time up, despite first base being occupied, Mariners manager Scott Servais purposefully walked Alvarez.