Jose Altuve (Greeneville 2008, 09) Becomes First in 2019 to Homer in 5 Straight Games
Even by his standards, which includes an American League MVP Award and a World Series championship, José Altuve is having a career week.
Even by his standards, which includes an American League MVP Award and a World Series championship, José Altuve is having a career week.
Altuve became the first player in MLB this season to homer in five straight games in the Astros' 3-1 win over the Mariners on Saturday, their eighth straight victory, at T-Mobile Park. He extended his personal-best homer streak by lifting a full-count sinker left up in the zone by
Even Altuve is surprised by the power barrage he's unleashing from his 5-foot-6 frame, insisting that he's not "trying" to slug, but rather, feasting on pitches in an optimum contact point, typically up in the zone.
"I'm not the power hitter that we're all seeing right now, but I'll take it," Altuve said. "If I can keep hitting homers for my team, I'll be happy."
Altuve is the first Astros player to go deep in five straight games since Morgan Ensberg set a franchise record by homering in six straight from April 15-21, 2006. Saturday's showing followed Altuve's go-ahead grand slam in Friday's win, which was the Astros' seventh straight victory. Altuve has six homers during his streak and seven this season.
Altuve has a .717 slugging percentage through 15 games, and he has more than half of his homer total from last season (13), when he was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career with a knee issue that required offseason surgery. Altuve's health is paramount to the Astros' offense as they attempt to defend their back-to-back American League West titles.
"He can carry this ballclub. He was the MVP for a reason," said Houston ace Justin Verlander, who aided Altuve and the offense with his best start of 2019. "To see him go out there and be healthy, nobody wants to dwell on negatives, but what he was going through behind the scenes last year that nobody was really aware of, it really speaks volumes to his character and the person that he is. But to see him healthy again and performing how we know he can perform, it's a big boost."