As of Saturday morning, Jose Altuve had hit 88 doubles and 47 home runs, and he had a .370/.372/.570 career line when he’d put the first pitch of an at-bat in play.
Josiah Gray knew going into his start against Altuve and the Houston Astros on Friday night in Washington, D.C.’s Nationals Park, that the ‘Stros’ diminutive leadoff man would swing if a pitcher throws him something good to start an at-bat, but he grooved a fastball to him, and Altuve hit it 416 feet to center at 103 MPH off the bat. Smoked.
“We talked to him about Altuve,” manager Davey Martinez said in discussing what ended up a five-hit, five-run first inning for the Nationals’ 24-year-old starter, in a 6-1 loss to the Astros.