*Justin Verlander did Justin Verlander things: throwing 6IP, 6H/2ER, 3K:2BB. His 3K in a start were the fewest since he failed to record a strikeout of a single Cleveland Indian on July 2. He had struck out 4+ in 31 of his 34 starts in 2017. It's his 10th straight start of two or fewer walks. Verlander:
Today was just incredible. It's great to be a part of a town that has embraced us this much...It was just incredible. From the moment I walked out on the field, it seemed like it was electric. To the point where I was like, 'let's focus on what you gotta do.' It's a great feeling.
*Bregman, on Verlander:
Just his presence, him being in here, it's meant everything. He's special, man.
*Chris Sale's line: 5IP, 9H/7ER, 6K:1BB, 3 HR allowed. Sale had not allowed nine hits in a start since June 10. He has now allowed 7HR in his last 10IP. Chris Sale is what it looks like when you are on a regimen of kale smoothies and meth.
*Jose Altuve hit three - THREE - home runs today. Let's put this in context:
Altuve's postseason home runs today: 3
Jeff Bagwell's postseason HR, career: 2
Craig Biggio's postseason HR, career: 2
It's only the 10th 3HR game in Major League Baseball postseason history. Jose Altuve had never hit three home runs in a game in his career before. He hit five home runs in 152 games in 2013. Pay him. Pay that man his money.
*Altuve, ever the gentleman:
I love the way that the team went out there and played today. We put a lot of good at-bats together, and when Marwin doubled, it was real big. But I think one of the keys was when Alex homered. I think he set the tone.
*Altuve:
I couldn't believe any of my homers. I hit one and I was like, "Wow." And the second one is like, "Wow, what's going on here?" (The third?) I don't know. I've got to wake up.
*Here's Cut4 ranking Altuve's 3HR game.
Great photo by @coomerchron of Rich Dauer’s reaction to Jose Altuve’s third home run in Game 1 of Astros-Red Sox pic.twitter.com/Xy09ureqZs— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) October 6, 2017
*Hitting coach Alonso Powell, who spent time in Japan with Ichiro, said of Altuve:
I know Ichiro well, and I never thought I'd say that I would see a better hitter than Ichiro. But three months into the season last year, I made that concession.
*Bregman:
It's going to be a different guy for us every game, like it has been all year...We were ready to compete. We've been waiting for this day for a long time.
*Josh Reddick, playing for the first time in 11 games, reached base three times:
My legs feel really heavy right now, but I'll come in early tomorrow, get some treatment, take care of it and get things ready to roll for tomorrow.
*The bullpen of Devenski, Harris, Liriano, and Musgrove threw 3IP, 2H/0ER, 3K:0BB. Both hits belonged to Will Harris.
*Marwin, on Keuchel's G2 start:
We're expecting something good. Everybody is, obviously the fans, too. He's one of the best pitchers in the league...He's been dominating all year, so I hope he has a good game tomorrow and we have the confidence that he's going to have.
*Collin McHugh was left off the ALDS roster in favor of Lance McCullers. McHugh:
My mindset has always been it's a privilege to be here. It's a privilege to play Major League Baseball, especially on a team that has a chance to win the World Series...Just because I'm not on the roster doesn't take away from what I've been able to add to this team throughout the season.
*Adrenaline is playing a big part of why Hinch hasn't named a G3 starter.
*Eduardo Nunez, he of the sketchy knee, didn't make it to 1st base in the 1st inning before said knee tweaked on him. Unfortunately, daggum Chris Young will replace him. Like, the Bellaire grad Chris Young, who has played in 66 games against the Astros to the tune of .318/.378/.577. Young has 20+ games against 28 of the 30 MLB teams and his .956 OPS against Houston ranks 2nd. I know he's hitting .235/.322/.387, but that dude scares me to death.
*Jim Crane might win a humanitarian award for what he's done for Houston and Puerto Rico.
*Alex Jacobs, a scout, left for Arizona and Jon Heyman is predictably upset. Half of his Astros notes (or, one out of two) are about the Astros "losing people."
*Not even remotely Astros-related, but the LA Times' Andy McCullough has a great story about Clayton Kershaw and 2016 NLDS G5.
