The Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 6-2 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. Jose Altuve capped off his big inning by walking off the field and into the clubhouse, leaving Yankee Stadium with a victory under their belt.
Houston Astros get last laugh after Jose Altuve caps 6-run inning by walking off New York Yankees.
HOUSTON, Texas — On Sunday, tens of thousands of fans exited Minute Maid Park wearing replica No. 27 Jose Altuve jerseys thanks to a giveaway.
The star of the Houston Astros was unable to go off the field with his.
Altuve blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete a stunning six-run comeback, causing his shirt to be ripped off in a wild celebration and lifting the Astros to an 8-7 victory against the New York Yankees.
Manager Dusty Baker remarked, “It was a miracle.”
The Astros had been shut out the previous two games by the Yankees, with star Gerrit Cole pitching a three-hitter in a 1-0 victory on Saturday night.
The Astros and their talented second baseman, though, got the last say in a series in which the clubs took turns mocking one other after lingering ill will over the years — even Yankees star Aaron Judge seeming to ridicule Altuve.
“How Altuve accomplished it again was really incredible,” catcher Martin Maldonado said. “He’s a big-hearted person who serves as the team’s public face. We felt something huge was about to happen as he stepped up to the bat.”
After a three-run blast by Gary Sanchez in the eighth inning, the Yankees were on their way to a sweep until the Astros broke free and handed the Yankees another another heartbreaking last-inning defeat.
Manager Aaron Boone described it as “the ultimate stomach blow.” “You’re up five runs in the ninth inning against a great team with a chance to sweep the series, and they come back to win. We need to improve on a few things and make sure that everyone is in the right place.”
According to statistics given by the Astros from Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time the Astros won after trailing by five or more runs in the ninth inning since they were down 7-2 before rebounding to defeat the Montreal Expos 9-8 on July 25, 1980.
Jose Altuve and manager Dusty Baker celebrate Jose Altuve’s game-winning three-run home run. Eric Christian Smith/AP Photo
Chas McCormick blasted a two-run double off Chad Green in the ninth inning after the first two Astros reached base (3-5). With no outs, Abraham Toro followed with an RBI double to make it 7-5.
Pinch-hitter Altuve blasted his soaring rocket to left field after Jason Castro singled. As he embraced Baker on his way off the field, his teammates met him at the plate and pulled off his jersey in jubilation, leaving him naked.
“After that home run, it was 100 percent coming off,” McCormick said of Altuve’s jersey.
“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in years,” Baker said.
After the game, Altuve was unavailable for a postgame interview. His father was in the hospital, according to the Astros, and he went to be with him.
In the ninth inning, Boone was questioned about why he didn’t go to struggling closer Aroldis Chapman.
He said, “I’m trying to bring him into [good] circumstances.” “We need to get him back to where we need to be as soon as possible. I want him to throw in those circumstances when he has a perfect game under his belt.”
For the victory, Ralph Garza Jr. (1-2) threw 123 scoreless innings. On a day when the Astros won despite walking a staggering 14 hitters, he gave up three walks.
Maldonado’s home drive in the third inning off Jameson Taillon tied the game at one each and gave Houston their first score of the series.
As he approached third base, Maldonado pulled his jersey down on the left side, exposing his bare breast.
He smiled as he remarked, “It was a bit heated.” “Trying to get some air into my shirt,” says the narrator.
Judge pulled his jersey together with both hands as he neared third base on a home run the day before. It was a gesture that some mistook for Altuve clutching his jersey to prevent his teammates from tearing it off after his game-winning home run in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series against the Yankees.
Following the revelation of Houston’s sign-stealing incident, some believed that Altuve didn’t want his jersey removed because he was hiding a buzzer that was used in the scheme. Altuve said he did it because he was bashful and got in trouble with his wife when his jersey was torn off previously.
Altuve was unavailable before Sunday’s game to comment on Judge’s performance, but Baker did so on Sunday.
Baker replied, “I observed what he did.” “That was incorrect.”
Sanchez yanked at his jersey in the same way that Judge did when he jogged home on his home run. Rougned Odor met him at the dugout stairs and wrapped him with a thick Yankees coat, possibly in response to Judge’s claim that it gets “very cold” at Minute Maid Park when the roof is closed.
After the defeat, Boone was in no mood to discuss the back-and-forth between the players.
He said, “I truly don’t have any interest.” “We surrendered a 7-2 advantage. I don’t believe it had anything to do with the additional things being discussed.”
This article was written with the help of the Associated Press.
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