Astros-Mariners ALDS: Three takeaways from Game 2, as Yordan Alvarez makes history again
Yordan Alvarez might be putting together one of the great postseason performances we’ve seen again.
Then again, he may never get another good pitch to hit.
For the second time in as many games, an Alvarez home run singlehandedly flipped the fortunes of the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the American League Division Series, as he hit an opposite-field, two-run homer off Mariners ace Luis Castillo to erase a one-run, sixth inning deficit. The Astros never trailed again and moved within a game of their sixth consecutive American League Championship Series appearance with a 4-2 Game 2 victory over the Mariners.
Alvarez became the first player in major league history to hit a walk-off playoff home run and follow it up with a go-ahead homer in consecutive games.
A look at three takeaways from Thursday’s Game 2:
Follow every game: Live MLB Scores
WHY NOT? Padres believe they ‘can beat anyone’ – even the Dodgers
STAY UP-TO-DATE: Subscribe to our Sports newsletter now!
Your Don, Alvarez
It was one thing for Alvarez to spank a two-out, three-run, walk-off homer to steal Game 1 from Seattle. That blast came off Mariners lefty Robbie Ray, who was making an ill-advised relief appearance and grooved a center-cut pitch to the Astros slugger.
Thursday was something else entirely.
Castillo was cruising, having allowed just five balls out of the infield and nursing a 2-1 lead in the sixth, the lone blemish a Kyle Tucker solo home run.