Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve made a critical error early in Game 1 of the ALCS. He made up for it with his 20th postseason home run.
Whether you love Jose Altuve or hate him, you should never doubt him.
It doesn’t matter if the Astros star just made a critical error, he always seems to find a way to create his moment.
That’s what he did in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Red Sox on Friday night.
The chant. The homer. @JoseAltuve27 delivered. pic.twitter.com/YmLWNDujKQ
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2021
That two-out, two-run home run to tie the game directly made up for Altuve’s third-inning error which helped put two runs on the board for Boston.
Jose Altuve is chasing the MLB postseason home run record
Even as that error changed the game and Twitter roasted Altuve, some knew better.
I’m not making fun of Jose Altuve, I know what he’s capable of doing. Don’t want that karma on me lol
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) October 16, 2021
They were right.
That’s why you respect Jose Altuve.
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) October 16, 2021
If you doubt Jose Altuve, he'll blast yet another huge playoff home run in downtown Houston and turn the stadium into total noise. #Astros
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) October 16, 2021
Altuve’s blast was the 20th of his career in the postseason. He is one of just four players to have hit that mark, now tied with Derek Jeter for third all-time. Even more impressively, he’s done it quicker than anyone before. It took Manny Ramirez 89 games to get to 20. Altuve did it in 68.
Jose Altuve is climbing the record books with his 20th career postseason home run:
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 16, 2021
- 4th player with 20 career playoff HR
- 1st Astros player with 20 career playoff HR
- 7th HR in Game 1 of a series, tying Manny Ramírez for most all-time pic.twitter.com/pyg56A0pMv
When it comes to postseason power, Altuve is putting his name in the history books. At 31 years old, he should have quite a few postseasons left in him too.
Of course, he’d prefer this one to extend beyond the ALCS.
If the Astros make it past the Red Sox, they’ll be in their third World Series in the last five years, giving Altuve many more opportunities to increase his home run total. He needs nine more to tie Ramirez for the most all-time. He had five in last years’ postseason and five in 2019. The homer on Friday night was his second of these playoffs.