Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve Lead the Astros to Victory in Game 3

Yordan Alvarez, the designated hitter for the Houston Astros, stood with a playful demeanor near his locker in the Globe Life Field visitors’ clubhouse after their 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Covered in dirt from a ninth-inning slide into home plate, Alvarez asked with a smile, “Did you think we were panicking?” It was clear that the Astros were not panicking, as their confidence and composure were evident throughout the game.

Despite losing the first two games of the series, the Astros believed that a few big hits could change the course of the series. As they have done all year, taking the show on the road seemed to provide the spark they needed. With Alvarez and Jose Altuve leading the charge, the Astros won their sixth consecutive game at Globe Life Field, including the regular season, outscoring the Rangers 61-33 over those six games.

Alvarez played a pivotal role in giving the Astros their first lead of the series in the second inning. He scored on a wild pitch by Max Scherzer, marking his MLB-leading 11th run scored of this postseason. Martín Maldonado then followed with a two-run single to left field, putting the Astros ahead early in the game. Altuve extended their lead in the third inning with a 413-foot solo home run to left field, ending his 18 consecutive plate appearances without a hit.

Altuve’s home run also moved him closer to Manny Ramirez for the all-time postseason home run lead. With 25 career postseason home runs, Altuve ranks second, surpassing Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter. In the seventh inning, Altuve added a single to his impressive performance, securing his 33rd postseason multihit game, behind only Jeter and Williams. He also joined the exclusive club of players with 200 or more total bases in postseason play, only trailing Jeter, Ramirez, and Williams.

Astros manager Dusty Baker praised Altuve, stating that he is one of the best playoff players of all time. Baker highlighted Altuve’s ability to bounce back from a bad at-bat with a strong one, making him a fan favorite and a joy to watch. Alvarez also made significant contributions, nearly hitting a home run in the sixth inning but was robbed by a magnificent catch from Leody Taveras. However, Alvarez responded with a two-run single in the seventh inning, further extending the Astros’ lead.

Alvarez’s performance in Game 3 solidified his place in the postseason record books. He joined Carlos Beltran (2004) and Alex Rodriguez (2009) as the only players to have five or more home runs, 10 or more RBIs, and 10 or more hits in their first seven postseason games. With his sights set on the bigger picture, Alvarez emphasized the team’s approach of taking it one game at a time and playing as if the series were tied at 0-0. They understand that they need four wins, and Game 3 was just the first step towards that goal.