HOUSTON – There was stunned disbelief in the Astros clubhouse after their victory over the Rangers in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday. The buzz was all about Jose Altuve, whose three-run home run in the ninth inning gave the Astros a 5-4 victory, but few had the words to describe what they had just seen.
However, everyone agreed: Altuve is the best clutch hitter they have ever seen. Altuve’s third career home run in the ninth inning or later in a playoff game – the most in history – moved the Astros to within one win of their third consecutive World Series berth and only solidified Altuve’s status as one of the most accomplished hitters any history of the postseason.
“NO. 1, he wants to be up there,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “NO. 2, he has a high level of concentration because that’s what it takes in such big moments: concentration, pleasure and relaxation all in one. And not everyone can do all three things. This guy is one of the baddest guys I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some great things.”
In Altuve’s 100th career playoff game in Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and three runs scored. It was his 10th career postseason game with at least three goals, tied with Carlos Correa for third in AL/NL history behind Derek Jeter (12) and Bernie Williams (12). Altuve’s game-winning home run in Game 5 on Friday was his 26th career postseason home run – three behind Manny Ramirez for the AL/NL lead.
“I feel like it’s just him,” teammate Alex Bregman said. “He has a slow heartbeat. He stays calm under pressure. He is confident in his abilities. He’s always focused and such a beast. Just such a great guy. So humble. I can’t say enough good things about him. [Thursday] I talked about him in the press conference room and it’s literally an honor to go out on the field with him every day and see how he does his business. I hope my 14 month old son [Knox] becomes the man he is.”
Among postseason performers, Altuve ranks second all-time in runs scored (86); fourth in hits (113), extra-base hits (46) and total bases (211); Fifth in doubles (20) and tied for seventh in RBIs (54). He has appeared in more playoff games than 18 franchises in their history.
“He wants to be in the moment,” said teammate Martín Maldonado. “He’s going to be a Hall of Famer.”
In honor of the Astros’ seven straight ALCS appearances, here are Altuve’s biggest playoff homers:
1. Walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS
One of the most memorable moments in Astros history: Altuve sent Houston to the World Series for the second time in three seasons with a walk-off home run off Aroldis Chapman and the Yankees. It was the sixth walk-off home run in Major League history to clinch a pennant.
2. Three-run home run in the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 2023 ALCS
Facing a two-run deficit early in the ninth, Yainer Diaz hit a single and Jon Singleton paved the way for Altuve, who hit an 0-1 changeup from José Leclerc over the left field wall for a dramatic three-run home run, to win the game, giving the Astros a 3-2 lead in the series.
3. Game-winning three-run home run in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series
After Cody Bellinger hit a three-run home run in the fifth to give the Dodgers a 7-4 lead, Altuve hit a three-run home run off Kenta Maeda to tie the game at 7. The Astros won 13-12 in 10 innings.
4. Three-homer game against Boston in Game 1 of the 2017 ALCS
Altuve became just the ninth player in AL/NL playoff history to hit three home runs in a game when he did it against the Red Sox. Altuve scored twice against Boston’s Chris Sale and once against substitute Austin Maddox at Minute Maid Park. All three were individual recordings.
5th home run in the 10th inning of Game 2 of the 2017 World Series
The first home run hit of Altuve’s career was in the ninth inning or later. He and Correa managed to break a tie against the Dodgers back-to-back, in a game the Astros ultimately won 7-6 in extra innings.
6. First-pitch home run in Game 1 of the 2023 ALDS
Altuve, who didn’t record an RBI in any of Houston’s 13 postseason games last season, swatted the first pitch he saw from Twins starter Bailey Ober and swung to left. His eight first-inning playoff home runs are the most of any player in history.
7. Game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 2021 ALCS
In the eighth inning of a series in which the Astros trailed 2-1, Altuve tied the game with a home run off Garrett Whitlock at Fenway Park. The Astros scored seven runs in the ninth for the first of three straight wins and clinched the pennant.