In a thrilling display of talent, Jose Altuve, the second baseman for the Houston Astros, made franchise history by recording its first cycle since 2013 in a game against the Boston Red Sox. This notable achievement comes as Altuve and fellow player Yordan Alvarez return to the diamond after recovering from oblique injuries.
Altuve's Historic Cycle
Altuve's performance was nothing short of spectacular. He started with a double in the third inning, followed by a single in the fifth. His momentum continued into the sixth inning with a triple, and he capped off his historic night with a home run in the eighth. This feat marks Altuve as one of the select players to have hit for the cycle this season, joining the ranks of Luis Arraez, Cedric Mullins, J.T. Realmuto, and Elly De La Cruz.
Tying Records
Altuve didn't stop at making history; he also drove in four runs during the game. This achievement tied him with teammate Yordan Alvarez for the most runs driven in among Astros players. It's clear that both Altuve and Alvarez are key contributors to the Astros' success this season, despite recent injuries.
The Last Cycle
The last Astro to hit for the cycle was Brandon Barnes, who achieved this distinction on July 19, 2013. Altuve's accomplishment brings back memories of that game while setting a new standard for today's team.
Return from Injuries
Both Altuve and Alvarez returned from oblique injuries on July 26. Altuve, who had missed 17 games, entered Monday with an impressive .365/.451/.522 slash line in 29 games since his return. Alvarez, however, who was absent for 39 games, seemed to have cooled since his first week back. Despite this, Alvarez managed to strike four hits and reach base five times in his fourth career four-hit game.
Astros Starter Cristian Javier's Performance
While Altuve and Alvarez were making strides, Astros starter Cristian Javier had a challenging night. He lasted just over four innings and allowed four runs on six hits. This marked the sixth time in his last 11 outings that Javier failed to complete five innings, raising his ERA to 7.46 in that span.
In his last 50 2/3 innings, Javier has struck out 43 batters, walked 32, and allowed 12 home runs. Interestingly, he throws his fastball 58% of the time. The Boston hitters seemed to have caught onto this, swinging at 32 of the 60 fastballs Javier threw, but only 12 of the 40 off-speed pitches.
Despite some struggles, the Astros continue to show their resilience and adaptability. With players like Altuve and Alvarez returning from injury and immediately making an impact, the team is demonstrating its depth and potential. As the season continues, fans and opponents alike will be keeping a close eye on how these players perform.