BOSTON – The Astros’ season was circling the drain of inevitability when the smallest man on the field marched to home plate at Fenway Park on Tuesday. Down 2-1 and six outs from a three games to one deficit in the American League Championship Series, Houston needed oxygen. Fast.
“I had a good feeling,” Astros hitting coach Alex Cintrón said.
The little guy with the bat in his hands was 5-foot-6 José Altuve. He would rescue them again to mark the latest highlight of what is a stupendous 72-game postseason career. Altuve whacked the first pitch he saw from Boston lockdown reliever Garrett Whitlock—a 96-mph sinker—into the Monster Seats.