The Houston Astros had to wait a little longer than usual to crank a home run Friday night against the Arlington Rangers. George Springer, who has nine career leadoff homers against the Rangers, started the game with a measly double. The wait didn’t last much longer than that. Jose Altuve followed with a two-run blast, his eighth of the season and seventh in the last nine games.
José Altuve has eight homers in 79 plate appearances. He didn’t hit his eighth HR last season until his 390th PA. In his MVP season in ‘17, he didn’t reach eight homers until his 237th PA.