Houston Astros’ legend Jose Altuve has constructed a profession on placing the bat on the ball higher than simply about anybody within the fashionable period. However on Thursday afternoon at Goal Area, the Astros second-baseman-turned-left-fielder skilled a primary…and never a very good one.
For the primary time in his 15-year MLB profession, Altuve struck out 5 occasions in a single recreation. The second was so uncommon that even Darren McCaughan, the Twins reliever who sealed Altuve’s destiny within the ninth inning, was caught off guard by the depth of the group response.
“I figured the group was going loopy for a cause,” McCaughan stated. “I noticed him strike out a couple of occasions. I didn’t know the precise quantity on it.”
Regardless of the Astros holding a snug 5-2 lead late within the recreation, followers on the Twins’ house opener got here alive for a uncommon spectacle — Altuve swinging and lacking. The previous MVP entered the sport with a profession strikeout charge of simply 12.8%, and solely two earlier four-strikeout video games on his résumé. However Twins pitching had his quantity.
Twins beat Astros as Jose Altuve lets his bat swing wild
Starter Joe Ryan obtained Altuve twice with sweepers early, and reliever Jorge Alcala blew a 99 mph fastball previous him for a fourth Ok within the seventh. Then got here McCaughan, a 29-year-old journeyman with solely a handful of big-league innings to his title, getting into the ninth with the group behind him.
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“First time I haven’t been capable of hear the PitchCom on the market,” McCaughan stated. “That was form of new.”
McCaughan obtained forward 0-2 shortly. Altuve battled, taking it to a full depend, however on the seventh pitch, McCaughan landed a sinker on the surface edge. Altuve froze, the umpire rang him up, and strikeout No. 5 was within the books.
After the sport, Altuve stored it actual: “I like swinging,” he stated by way of Chandler Rome on X. “Generally I attempt to swing at my pitch, generally I swing at all the pieces.” Honesty like that’s uncommon — and becoming. Altuve’s aggressiveness on the plate has lengthy been each his weapon and his occasional weak spot. On Thursday, it tilted closely towards the latter.
Nonetheless, the Astros gained, and as tough as the person efficiency seemed, Altuve isn’t more likely to dwell too lengthy. He’s been probably the most constant hitters of his era, and 5 strikeouts — even when it’s a primary — don’t erase that. McCaughan, in the meantime, could always remember the second. Not solely did he silence considered one of baseball’s finest, however he additionally delivered a reminiscence to 36,000 roaring Twins followers.
“I wished [the 2-2 pitch], however I feel it was a ball,” McCaughan stated postgame. “Three-two, I don’t know. Seemed good to me.” Ball or strike, it was a win for McCaughan, a loss for Altuve’s stat line, and a wierd, loud chapter in a protracted MLB profession.