Postseason 2023 | Altuve's clutch HR gave the Astros the win in Game 5. Adolis' big HR wasn't enough

Cuban MLB Players News for the 2023 postseason. A compendium from several sources

José Altuve (Photo: MLB)

Oct 20

American League Championship Series

Astros 5, Rangers 4

Astros lead 3-2

Powered by a dramatic ninth-inning home run by José Altuve, the Astros took a 3–2 series lead over the Rangers on Friday. The game was marked by massive home runs for both teams and heated bases-clearing incidents on the field, resulting in one of the most memorable games of the 2023 postseason.

As the Astros trailed 4–2 with two runners on and no outs in the top of the ninth, Altuve drove a pitch just over the left field wall. Houston won the game with the home run, putting them one victory away from another World Series appearance.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, the 10 career go-ahead home runs by José Altuve pass Albert Pujols as the most in MLB history. It is his third go-ahead HR in the 9th inning or later of a playoff game, the most ever.

A clutch home run by Adolis García off Justin Verlander put the Rangers ahead before the stunning loss, a welcome but brief sign that the Rangers might pick up their offensive game. As a result, the Astros now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Despite Jordan Montgomery pitching 5 1/3 innings and Nathaniel Lowe hitting a solo home run, the Astros offense was too much for the Rangers. In addition to Altuve, Alex Bregman also hit a home run and José Abreu produced a single-RBI.

As the series moves back to Houston, the Astros maintain a 3-2 lead, with the potential to win the pennant by Sunday, when Game 6 takes place.

Teams that win Game 5 in a best-of-seven postseason series have won 79 out of 112 times (71%). In series with the current 2-3-2 format, teams that win Game 5 before going home for Games 6-7 have won 20 of 25 times (80%).

José Abreu smacked a go-ahead RBI single off of Jordan Montgomery in the sixth inning on Friday as the Astros triumphed over the Rangers in Game 5 of the ALCS.

The Rangers had just evened the score at 1-1 in the home half of the fifth, when the Astros struck right back in the next frame. Alex Bregman drew a one-out walk, Yordan Álvarez singled into right field and Abreu followed by hitting an 0-2 curveball for a hard (96.7 mph EV) one-hopper that Corey Seager was unable to handle at shortstop — driving in Bregman with the go-ahead run. Abreu finished the day 1-for-4 and is now hitting .257 (9-for-35) with four homers, 12 RBI and a stolen base through his first nine postseason contests.

Adolis García blasted a go-ahead three-run homer off of Justin Verlander in the sixth inning on Friday night, but it wouldn’t be enough to lead the Rangers to victory over the Astros in Game 5 of the ALCS.

The 30-year-old slugger transformed a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 advantage with his mammoth 396-foot (108.0 mph EV) blast into the seats in left center. He was then drilled by Bryan Abreu his next time up — leading to a benches-clearing altercation that got García, Abreu and Dusty Baker ejected from the ballgame. The Astros then rallied in the ninth inning, as José Altuve crushed a go-ahead three-run homer of his own to flip the script. For the postseason, García is hitting .286 (12-for-42) with four long balls and 11 RBI. The Rangers will now have their backs against the wall as they attempt to stave off elimination in Game 6 in Houston on Sunday.

Yordan had another multi hit game.

Yordan Álvarez did not hit a home run during Game 5 of the ALCS, won by Houston 5-4 over Texas. He managed two more hits in a game in which he went 2-for-5 but struck out three times. During the 2023 postseason, Álvarez hits .417/.450/.972 with a high OPS of 1.422, six home runs, 11 runs scored, and 13 RBIs.

Aroldis Chapman worked in the eight inning.

In Game 5 of the ALCS, Aroldis Chapman pitched the eighth inning. Before allowing a double from Kyle Tucker that took him out of the game, the Cuban retired his two compatriots, Yordan Álvarez - strikeout - and José Abreu. It was Chapman's 41st postseason appearance, and he was credited with the hold.