New York Post
HOUSTON — The Astros have knocked out the Yankees in the ALCS two of the past three seasons — and no one has hurt them more than Jose Altuve, whose game winning two-run homer in the ninth sent Houston to the world Series. And the Yankees home.
“To be honest, I never feel good on defense when [Altuve] comes to the plate,’’ Brett Gardner said. “It’s not just us. Every team feels like that. He’s one of the best players in the game. He got a pitch to hit and didn’t miss it.’’
HOUSTON — The Astros have knocked out the Yankees in the ALCS two of the past three seasons — and no one has hurt them more than Jose Altuve, whose game winning two-run homer in the ninth sent Houston to the world Series. And the Yankees home.
“To be honest, I never feel good on defense when [Altuve] comes to the plate,’’ Brett Gardner said. “It’s not just us. Every team feels like that. He’s one of the best players in the game. He got a pitch to hit and didn’t miss it.’’
He did that a lot in the ALCS — and Altuve also started a nifty double play on a Gary Sanchez grounder to second to end the top of the eighth.
But no hit was more important than his last.
“I was facing Aroldis Chapman, [who] is one of the best closers in the league,’’ Altuve said. “Nothing is easy with him. I just hit a homer, and I hope I don’t get to face him again because he’s that good. But at the same time, I was just thinking something I can drive, I have my game plan, I wasn’t trying to hit a homer. I was just thinking to hit the ball hard, get on base and keep the momentum. Thank God the ball went out and we won the game.”
But no hit was more important than his last.
“I was facing Aroldis Chapman, [who] is one of the best closers in the league,’’ Altuve said. “Nothing is easy with him. I just hit a homer, and I hope I don’t get to face him again because he’s that good. But at the same time, I was just thinking something I can drive, I have my game plan, I wasn’t trying to hit a homer. I was just thinking to hit the ball hard, get on base and keep the momentum. Thank God the ball went out and we won the game.”
Houston faces the surprising wild-card National League winner Washington Nationals Tuesday.
To read rest of article, click on link: https://nypost.com/2019/10/20/yankees-killer-jose-altuve-comes-up-huge-again-for-astros/
To read rest of article, click on link: https://nypost.com/2019/10/20/yankees-killer-jose-altuve-comes-up-huge-again-for-astros/