HOUSTON – José Altuve celebrated the 10th anniversary of his major league debut with a home run in the game’s first inning, and he repeated the feat on his next visit to the batter’s box as the Houston Astros beat down on Tuesday 9-9. 3 to the Cleveland Indians.
The Venezuelan went 1-for-5 with a single in his debut for the Astros on July 20, 2011, when Houston beat Washington 3-2. He was then 21 years old.
On Tuesday night, Altuve, who is now married with two daughters, performed much better than that of that auspicious debut.
In his first turn he hit a home run off rookie Triston McKenzie (1-4). It was the seventh time he has started a game with a home run.
His second home run blew the ball down the left field line. Altuve stayed several minutes in the batting box to verify that the ball did not go foul.
Then he started running, as the ball bounced off the post.
Kyle Tucker added a two-run homer and Houston left the game almost definite with a cluster of six touchdowns in the fifth inning that made it 8-0.
The Astros thus spun their third victory.
Venezuelan Luis Garcia (7-5) continued his good season, allowing three hits spread over six scoreless innings. He tied his best with eight strikeouts.
For the Indians, the Dominicans Amed Rosario 5-1 with a run scored and an RBI, Franmil Reyes 4-0. Venezuelan César Hernández 4-1 with two RBIs. Puerto Rican Roberto Pérez 2-0. Colombian Harold Ramírez 3-1.
For the Astros, Venezuelan Altuve 4-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs. The Cubans Yuli Gurriel 5-3 with one scored, Yordan Álvarez 5-1 with one scored and two produced. Puerto Ricans Carlos Correa 4-1 with one scored, Martín Maldonado 1-0 with one scored.
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