In a stunning display of prowess on the diamond, Jose Altuve, the Houston Astros' second baseman, etched his name into franchise history. In a game against the Boston Red Sox, Altuve recorded the team's first cycle since 2013, an achievement that had eluded the Astros for nearly a decade.
Altuve's Historic Performance
Altuve's remarkable performance unfolded in stages. He doubled in the third inning, singled in the fifth, tripled in the sixth, and rounded it off with a home run in the eighth. This masterclass in batting not only electrified fans but also drove in four runs, tying him with Yordan Alvarez for the most among Astros players.
The last Astro to hit for the cycle was Brandon Barnes, who achieved this feat on July 19, 2013. Since then, no other player in the team had managed to replicate such a feat until Altuve's stellar performance.
Other Players Joining the Cycle Club
This season, several other players have joined the illustrious cycle club. These include Luis Arraez, Cedric Mullins, J.T. Realmuto, and Elly De La Cruz. Their performances have added another layer of excitement to an already thrilling season.
The Return from Injury
Interestingly, both Altuve and Alvarez returned from oblique injuries on July 26. Altuve, who'd missed 17 games, entered Monday's game with a .365/.451/.522 slash line in 29 games since his return. On the other hand, Alvarez, absent for 39 games, had cooled since his first week back. Despite this, Alvarez managed to strike four hits and reached base five times in his fourth career four-hit game.
Astros' Starter Cristian Javier's Performance
While Altuve and Alvarez were lighting up the scoreboard, Astros starter Cristian Javier had a challenging outing. He lasted just over four innings, allowing four runs on six hits. This marked the sixth time in his last 11 outings that Javier failed to complete five innings, reflecting a concerning trend for the pitcher.
Javier's ERA during this span has ballooned to 7.46. Over his last 50 2/3 innings, he has struck out 43 batters, walked 32, and allowed 12 home runs. His fastball, which he throws 58% of the time, was particularly targeted by Boston hitters, who swung at 32 of 60 fastballs he threw. They were more cautious with his off-speed pitches, swinging at only 12 of 40.
Despite the struggles of their starting pitcher, the Astros can take solace in the performances of Altuve and Alvarez. Their recent returns from injury and subsequent impact on games have been a beacon of hope in an otherwise challenging period for the team.