The Astros jumped the Red Sox Thursday afternoon in game one of the American League Divisional Series, and they didn’t wait until the first pitch to get fired up.

The real fireworks came later.

Houston starter Justin Verlander went six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. While he wasn’t super sharp, he left with a 5-2 lead that only grew after second baseman Jose Altuve hit his third home run to become the ninth player in Major League Baseball history to homer three times in a postseason game.

Former Yankees slugger Babe Ruth did it twice.

Altuve’s first two bombs in Minute Maid Park landed in nearly the same spot in left-center field.

Altuve’s standing plenty tall enough.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta Dream's Brittney Griner (42) shoots against Indiana Fever's Natasha Howard (6) and Aliyah Boston (7) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Credit: AP

Featured

“Our members cannot be bought off,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers “illegal and haphazard.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC