*Photo from the Seattle Times*
You can't stop the Astros right now, and you definitely can't stop Jose Altuve. Jose Abreu drove in 3 runs, Altuve homered 3 times, and the Houston Astros pummeled the Texas Rangers 14-1 on Tuesday night in Arlington.
In the first 3 innings and his first 3 at bats, Altuve homered each time. He had homered in 4 straight at bats and 4 straight innings, dating back to Monday night, before grounding out in his 4th at bat. He became the first player since 1961 to homer in 4 consecutive innings.
Altuve said of his historic feat after the game that "It's obviously amazing. It’s a good thing to do, especially the situation we are in right now trying to get to first place, trying to win the division. It’s good."
In the first inning, Altuve made it 1-0 with a solo home run before Jeremy Pena scored on a fielder's choice and Chas McCormick hit an RBI single to make it 3-0 Astros. Altuve hit a solo home run in the second and Abreu hit a two run single to make it a 6-0 game. Martin Maldonado made it 8-0 in the 3rd with a two run home run.
Later in the 3rd, Altuve homered again, hitting another solo shot to make it 9-0 Astros. Marcus Semien got the Rangers on the board in the 5th with an RBI single to make it a 9-1 game. In the 7th, Mauricio Dubon hit an RBI double while Maldonado and Yordan Alvarez each hit two run home runs to make it a 14-1 score.
Maldonado said of Altuve's historic game that "We were like, ‘Oh my God, this guy already has three homers before a couple of their guys have an at-bat? What’s going on?’ Altuve’s one of the main guys. If he goes, we go as a team. That guy is going to be a Hall of Famer. Everything he does, you feel like it’s always getting better and better. Just like wine."
Framber Valdez turned in a strong start for the Astros, allowing one run on 6 hits and 4 walks in 7 innings pitched, improving to 11-9 with a win. Joel Kuhnel worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to seal the win.
Nathan Eovaldi lasted just 1 1/3 innings for the Rangers, allowing 4 runs. Dane Dunning pitched the next 5 1/3 innings, allowing 9 runs on 11 hits and two walks. Ian Kennedy allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings before catcher Austin Hedges threw a scoreless 9th inning.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that "We're a better club than this, pitching-wise, offensively. We can't forget what's happened this season, you have to remember who you are. You just gotta continue to fight. You have no choice. We're too good a ballclub. There's too much talent in there. I firmly believe it, so that's how I'm gonna feel until the end of the season."
The series wraps up on Wednesday night. The Astros go for the sweep with Justin Verlander getting the start, while the Rangers look to avoid getting swept with Max Scherzer getting the start.
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