Altuve hits for Astros’ first cycle in 10 years
BOSTON — Early in his profession, Jose Altuve might drive the ball to all fields after which wreak havoc on the bases along with his legs. As the years and accolades piled up, Altuve turned extra of a pull hitter who developed critical energy. So it was solely a matter of time earlier than he was capable of pull all his instruments collectively for one unforgettable evening.
Altuve doubled in his second at-bat within the third inning, singled within the fifth inning and hit a two-run triple within the sixth. After coming out within the seventh, he blasted his tenth homer of the season, crusing a pitch from Kyle Barraclough over the Green Monster to finish the cycle. It was Houston’s first cycle since Brandon Barnes on July 19, 2013.
“I was aware that I needed a homer, but I wasn’t really trying to change my whole approach,” Altuve mentioned. “I was thinking about getting a pitch and trying to drive it.”
Altuve went 4-for-6, scored 4 instances, drove in a season-high-tying 4 runs and tied a profession excessive with 4 hits. Led by Altuve, the Astros bashed out 18 hits — someday after getting 25 hits in Detroit — to set a franchise file for many hits (57) in a three-game span.
“That’s the first cycle I’ve seen in a long time,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned. “We were all pulling for him that at-bat before when he popped the ball up. Boy, that’s the first cycle we had in 10 years. It’s great to score runs.”
More than 2,500 miles away, a retired Barnes was at dwelling in Meridian, Idaho, when he received a random message from an Astros fan through Instagram informing him that Altuve had hit for the cycle. Considering Barnes got here up by way of the Houston system with Altuve and performed with him early in his profession, he was thrilled.
“To say I had [a cycle] before him blows my mind,” Barnes advised MLB.com. “I was a platoon player. Pretty special. I couldn’t be more happy for him and his family and the whole situation because he deserves it.”
Barnes legged out a double at Minute Maid Park for his cycle, turning into the primary Houston participant to do it within the AL. Altuve began at second base in that recreation towards the Mariners and had two hits.
“I had a great relationship with him and he played hard,” Altuve mentioned. “I saw it, and it’s a cool thing.”
Barnes, a sixth-round choose by the Astros in 2005 whose Major League profession consisted of 484 video games for the Astros (2012-13), Rockies (2014-16) and Cleveland (’18), performed with Altuve at High-A Lancaster in ‘10 and Double-A Corpus Christi in ‘11, and later within the large leagues.
“The kid, at that time, had more grit and grind and hustle and determination than anybody I had ever played with,” Barnes mentioned. “His bat-to-ball skills were insane, and as soon as he figured out the power side of it, it was over. His defense has always been solid. He was just one of those guys who wanted to play baseball, and I think that’s his whole story. He wanted to play baseball and he was going to play as long as he could.”
Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez went 4-for-4 with 4 RBIs and blasted his first homer since Aug. 6, one which put Houston forward, 8-4, within the sixth. He scored Altuve, who had tripled two batters prior, however Alvarez had no concept Altuve’s homer secured the cycle till third baseman Alex Bregman advised him.
“I just missed the triple,” Alvarez mentioned. “When he hit the triple, I was getting ready to go out there.”
Bregman was additionally caught abruptly … stunned the cycle was Altuve’s fist.
“I asked him in the dugout afterwards, I was like, ‘Is that your first cycle?’ He said, ‘Yeah,’ and I said, ‘No freaking way,’” Bregman mentioned. “I thought it was one of multiple that he’s had. I heard it was the first one in 10 years. That’s pretty cool. Not only did he hit for the cycle, but he had some big hits for us today, too, clutch hits to help win the game.”
