Yordan Alvarez celebrates with teammate Raynel Delgado after his grand slam that gave the Astros a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in Tuesday’s 6-4 win over the Twins at Daikin Park.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts in the dugout after hitting a grand-slam to take a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, center, celebrates with Jose Altuve, left, after hitting a grand-slam to take a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Mike Burrows (50) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Minnesota Twins right fielder Austin Martin (16) runs through first base as Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) catches the ball during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts in the dugout after hitting a grand-slam to take a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts in the dugout after hitting a grand-slam to take a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts in the dugout after hitting a grand-slam to take a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, center, celebrates with Jose Altuve, left, after hitting a grand-slam to take a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, center, celebrates with Raynel Delgado, left, after hitting a grand-slam to take a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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The Houston Astros face the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez watches the ball after hitting a grand-slam to give team a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez watches the ball after hitting a grand-slam to give team a 6-3 lead during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) tosses his bat after successfully challenging a pitch with the bases loaded to score Taylor Trammell during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) drops a catch during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Mike Burrows (50) spits in-between pitches during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (23) during the first inning against the Houston Astros of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros shortstop Nick Allen (20) passes the ball during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) throws the ball between batters during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros’ third base coach Tony Perezchica walks in the dugout before the Astros face the Minnesota Twins MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) reacts after striking out during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) hits a single during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) reacts after hitting Minnisota Twins Victor Caratini with the bases loaded during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) looks back after misfielding a hit Minnesota Twins Ryan Kreidler that allowed two runs to score during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitching coach Josh Miller talks with starting pitcher Mike Burrows alongside catcher Yainer Diaz and first baseman Christian Walker during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) reacts after giving up a single to Minnesota Twins Kody Clemens during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) calls off second baseman Jose Altuve on Minnesota Twins Brooks Lee’s fly ball during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) delivers during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) delivers during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Steven Okert (48) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) swings at a pitch while the Astros face Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Fans take off their shirts and wave them as the Houston Astros face the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Fans take off their shirts and wave them as the Houston Astros face the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee (22) jogs to the dugout during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Minnesota Twins pitcher Eric Orze (19) pitches against the Houston Astros during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros closer Josh Hader (71) delivers during the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Mike Burrows (50) pitches against Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Mike Burrows (50) pitches against Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates with his team after hitting a homer against the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) bats against the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, left, gives a fist-bump to relief pitcher Steven Okert after getting Minnesota Twins Brooks Lee to fly out to end the top of the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, left, talks with relief pitcher Steven Okert during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Steven Okert (48) delivers during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Nick Allen (20) attempts a bunt during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yainer Diaz (21) reacts after getting hit on the hand by a pitch during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Enyel de Los Santos (65) reacts after getting out of the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Raynel Delgado (29)fields fly ball by Minnesota Twins Tristan Gray to end the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Enyel de Los Santos (65) delivers during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) blows a bubble in the outfield during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (21) heads onto the field during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) jogs onto the field during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) is seen before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Nick Allen (20) walks to the dugout before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Fans wearing wigs to look like Space City Home Network broadcaster Julia Morales pose for a photo with her before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Raynel Delgado (29) is seen in the dugout before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros bench coach Omar Lopez watches players from the dugout during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros shortstop Nick Allen (20) during the XXXX inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (0) warms up before the Astros take on the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Raynel Delgado (29) participates in drills before the Astros take on the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) walks around the infield during warmups before facing the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) warms up before playing the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Minnesota Twins players warm up prior to facing the Houston Astros in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astro’s manager Joe Espada talks to the media prior to the teams matchup against Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astro’s pitcher Christian Javier watches as players warm up before the team faces the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) talks to the Astros pitching coach Joshua Miller before the Astros face the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Nick Allen (20) stretches before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Nick Allen (20) stretches before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) warms up before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) stretches before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Cristian Javier is seen before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) throws a football before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Cristian Javier stretches before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) warms up before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) throws before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros left field Yordan Alvarez (44) works in the outfield before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Mike Burrows (50) runs onto the field before facing the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros Brice Matthews hits before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros cheerleaders hold their pos over their heart during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner prior to the Astros facing Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros’ mascot Orbit walks around the stadium before the Astros face the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros’ mascot Orbit walks around the stadium before the Astros face the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (0) talks to Houston Astros pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) before they face the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Houston Astros players warm up before facing the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Fans wearing wigs to look like Space City Home Network broadcaster Julia Morales jokes with her before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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A Houston Astros fan wears a pineapple hat for the SpongeBob SquarePants themed night at the park as the Astros take on the Minnesota Twins in a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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The Houston Astros face the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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A Houston Astros fan holds up a large sign of Jose Altuve while wearing a hotdog costume during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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Fans watch as the Houston Astros face the Minnesota Twins during a MLB baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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An atypical sight unfolded Monday afternoon at Daikin Park. Some four hours before the Houston Astros opened a series against the Twins, Yordan Alvarez occupied the left-handed batter’s box on the field for a few rounds of batting practice.
Catching coach Tim Cossins fed a velocity machine set up near the pitcher’s mound. Hitting coach Victor Rodriguez was among those around the batting cage. Alvarez and Jose Altuve both rotated in for swings during the early session.
“He wanted to work on velo,” Rodriguez said of Alvarez. “On the field, you can tell when you’re driving the ball the right way, when you’re staying on the ball, when you get around the ball. So I think he wanted to come on the field and work on seeing the ball, the path of the ball, the flight of the ball. And he wanted to see velo.”
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Alvarez entered Monday hitless in his last 13 at-bats. His mini-drought stretched to 16 at-bats that night, even as Alvarez tagged a 409-foot fly out in the Astros’ loss to Minnesota, a blip for most batters but one the slugger said felt like a burden.
Alvarez is operating in rarefied air. A season-long hitless streak left him leading all qualified major-league players in OPS by a mere 56 points entering Tuesday, when Alvarez was back on the field for early hitting again, spraying drives around the outfield at Daikin Park.
“I think the only guy that was worried about him was himself,” Altuve said.
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Pregame Monday, manager Joe Espada pointedly cited Alvarez’s on-base percentage during the Astros’ recent road trip as evidence of his contributions even amid a quieter week. Alvarez didn’t drive in a run on the seven-game trek to Toronto and Detroit. That Houston still went 5-2 felt significant.
BATTERS
AVG
OBA
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
E
Team Totals
.241
.316
2961
397
715
139
6
116
380
293
721
28
12
36
Wade
.333
.385
12
2
4
2
0
1
4
1
3
0
0
0
Alvarez
.314
.428
309
59
97
16
0
26
60
58
65
1
0
2
Peña
.295
.356
183
34
54
9
0
6
21
15
35
8
1
5
Delgado
.286
.333
28
3
8
1
0
1
4
2
4
0
0
2
Correa
.279
.369
122
22
34
8
0
3
16
18
26
1
0
1
Trammell
.274
.337
95
13
26
5
1
3
11
8
35
1
0
1
Paredes
.250
.345
292
35
73
16
0
11
45
33
54
0
0
6
Diaz
.246
.274
138
12
34
7
0
3
17
5
23
0
1
1
Shewmake
.243
.260
74
8
18
3
0
3
8
2
13
0
0
1
Allen
.243
.289
70
12
17
2
0
1
5
4
18
1
0
1
Walker
.238
.309
324
45
77
16
1
19
56
30
79
0
0
0
Altuve
.233
.305
245
37
57
12
0
8
22
25
59
1
2
3
Harris
.226
.286
31
4
7
0
1
0
4
2
6
2
0
0
Smith
.222
.297
288
35
64
12
1
11
32
28
82
9
1
4
Vázquez
.216
.274
162
17
35
6
0
4
19
13
29
0
0
0
Loperfido
.212
.313
99
13
21
7
1
1
11
14
29
1
1
1
Meyers
.205
.264
132
14
27
6
0
3
11
10
30
1
2
0
Matthews
.193
.243
192
19
37
5
1
6
18
13
68
2
4
1
Dezenzo
.191
.255
47
5
9
4
0
1
2
4
19
0
0
0
Price
.167
.231
12
1
2
1
0
0
0
1
6
0
0
1
Cole
.157
.189
51
4
8
1
0
3
8
1
21
0
0
1
Johnson
.143
.294
14
1
2
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
0
0
Whitcomb
.130
.167
23
2
3
0
0
2
5
1
11
0
0
0
Salazar
.056
.227
18
0
1
0
0
0
1
3
3
0
0
0
___
PITCHERS
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
Team Totals
43
45
4.73
88
88
26
779.1
704
438
410
116
380
756
Ullola
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
4
Meyers
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Hader
2
0
0.69
13
0
8
13
2
1
1
1
5
21
Santa
0
1
0.71
8
0
0
12.2
5
5
1
0
5
8
VanWey
1
0
1.50
5
0
0
6
5
2
1
0
0
5
Brown
1
0
1.78
5
5
0
25.1
17
6
5
2
13
32
King
2
1
2.19
35
0
6
37
30
11
9
1
14
28
Okert
1
0
2.41
41
1
0
41
25
11
11
4
12
38
Pearson
1
0
3.38
12
0
1
16
14
8
6
1
8
13
Lambert
6
5
3.51
13
13
0
74.1
57
29
29
10
31
68
Blubaugh
4
2
3.52
33
0
0
53.2
38
22
21
5
29
50
Arrighetti
7
4
4.00
13
13
0
72
56
34
32
9
37
75
Teng
4
6
4.36
23
10
0
64
59
35
31
10
28
63
De Los Santos
0
2
4.78
36
0
5
37.2
36
22
20
5
9
35
Roa
0
1
5.19
7
0
0
8.2
10
5
5
1
7
6
Imai
5
3
5.36
11
11
0
47
37
28
28
6
25
58
Bolton
0
1
5.40
8
3
1
20
21
12
12
3
14
22
Burrows
4
8
5.58
17
16
0
90.1
103
59
56
19
33
72
Abreu
2
3
6.00
31
0
5
27
23
20
18
6
25
34
McCullers
2
3
6.86
8
8
0
39.1
38
32
30
7
22
43
Murray
0
0
7.43
8
0
0
13.1
19
11
11
1
7
8
Weiss
0
3
7.62
9
2
0
26
35
24
22
8
20
30
France
0
0
8.10
3
0
0
6.2
6
6
6
1
5
4
Sousa
0
0
8.10
5
0
0
3.1
3
3
3
0
5
4
Salazar
0
0
9.00
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
Alexander
1
1
9.33
4
2
0
18.1
21
19
19
4
8
14
Gordon
0
0
11.57
4
1
0
9.1
21
12
12
6
3
11
Javier
0
1
12.54
3
3
0
9.1
13
13
13
2
9
4
Muñoz
0
0
15.75
3
0
0
4
7
7
7
3
6
6
For most of this season, Alvarez’s awesome production has carried an inconsistent offense. He leads the American League in home runs (26) and ranks second in RBIs (60). Among qualified AL hitters, he is first in on-base percentage (.428) and slugging (.618) and second in batting average (.314).
He has played in all but two of Houston’s first 86 games. His first off day arrived on May 24. His second occurred Saturday in Detroit, amid his quiet stretch. The Astros still amassed 15 hits that day. Alvarez’s presence is invaluable to their lineup, yet there are occasions that invite prudence.
“There’s a lot of stuff that I work on,” Alvarez said Tuesday night, through an interpreter. “But lately, it’s a long season, a lot of road trips, and it’s a lot of tiredness that sets in in that case. So sometimes it’s more stuff that you battle with regarding the tiredness that my body feels, and not necessarily the mechanics.”
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Espada termed the focus of Alvarez’s work the past two days “just timing,” his full response dovetailing with what Rodriguez had said about seeing velocity.
“Just trying to catch the ball out in front,” Espada said. “He feels like the ball is kind of getting to him a little bit too deep and he just wants to make sure that the barrel is out in front and he’s staying behind the ball.”
Tuesday, in his first at-bat against Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, Alvarez took two pitches to a 1-1 count. Ryan threw a splitter down and in at 90.5 mph. Alvarez turned on it and lined a single into right field at 115.1 mph off the bat, tied for his fourth-hardest-hit ball in play this season.
“Honestly, in that situation, I would have taken a blooper, anything just to take my mind off it,” Alvarez said.
In his second at-bat, Alvarez chased a fastball well above the zone for a strikeout with a runner on third base and one out in the third inning. Houston emerged from the inning still trailing 3-0. It had trimmed the deficit to one when Alvarez came up again in the fourth.
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A timely two-out ABS challenge by Altuve overturned a called third strike into a bases-loaded walk and prolonged the inning for Alvarez. Ryan had already thrown 34 pitches in the fourth as Alvarez strode to the plate. Ryan toed the rubber, then stepped off, taking a breather.
It delayed a damaging blow. In a 1-1 count, Ryan threw a sinker in the middle of the zone. Alvarez hit it 395 feet into the Astros’ bullpen. His seventh career grand slam — tying the franchise record — and third this month proved the decisive swing in a 6-4 win for Houston, which inched its record to 43-45.
Alvarez finished 3-for-4 on the night, a result just as heartening for the Astros, if one they considered an inevitability. Everything about Alvarez’s season to date supports the view.
“Nobody was concerned about him going 0-for-16 because at some point he will come and hit homers and doubles like he did today, and I bet you tomorrow he’s going to do similar stuff,” Altuve said. “He’s good. He’s probably one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen in my career. Like I said, he was the only guy worried about himself.”
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