A José Altuve baserunning gaffe proved costly for the Astros during their ALCS Game 1 loss against the Rangers on Sunday, ending the eighth inning prematurely with the team trailing by two runs.
In a 2–0 game, Alex Bregman launched a ball to deep left-center field at Minute Maid Park that appeared to have a chance to go over the wall. Bregman was admiring the shot out of the batter’s box, and it seems Altuve also was under the impression that his teammate had gone yard.
When Texas’s Evan Carter caught the ball on the warning track, Altuve scampered back to first base, but he never touched second base on his way back.
Evan Carter has been getting it done for the @Rangers on defense too! pic.twitter.com/LJCinBqgej
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 16, 2023
The Texas defense didn’t miss Altuve’s mistake and made sure to point it out to the umpires, who initially ruled him safe.
A replay review confirmed that Altuve had missed second base, and thus he was ruled out in a painful inning-ending double play.
Jose Altuve didn’t touch second on his way back to first so it’s a double play 😬 pic.twitter.com/WCblWO30WS
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 16, 2023
Had Bregman had just a touch more power on his hit, the game could’ve been tied. Instead, Altuve’s mishap on the base paths resulted in a second costly out for the Astros, who failed to score during the bottom of the ninth and lost the game, 2–0.
Game 2 of the ALCS is scheduled for Monday at 4:37 p.m. ET.
