2024 was the first year the Astros did not make the ALCS since 2016; don’t frown because it is over, smile because it happened. Everyone remembers game five of the 2017 World Series, or Yordan’s monster shot to win the 2022 Series, but there are a lot of underrated moments that I would like to reminisce over. Here are my top 5!
5. When the Astros swept the Indians in the 2018 division series.
In 2018, the Astros being good was still very new to us. Yes, they won it the year before, but the 2013 season was still in recent memory and winning a postseason series still felt very new. The final composite score for the series was a blowout but all three games were very exciting. In game 2, Houston was down by a run going into the 6th but Marwin Gonalez hit a two-rbi double to take the lead.
I was in the middle of a road trip during this series and I vividly remember listening to the games on the radio, and enjoyed it much better that way. There is nothing like zooming down the highway while you hold on to every pitch.
4. Game five of the 2023 ALCS.
Yes, Houston lost the series and that sucked. Yes, that may have been the last time the Astros get close to a World Series for a while. However, the game five comeback still happened.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Garcia got very upset over being hit by a pitch that was obviously not intended to plunk him. Baker was ejected for arguing the ejection of Abreu, which led to one of the greatest moments in postseason history.
With Baker out of the game, Espada made some savvy moves to allow Jose Altuve to come up with the two runners on and the opportunity to do damage; he would not disappoint. Altuve hit a go-ahead three-run shot to put the Astros ahead.
Ryan Pressley closed out the ninth thanks to an incredible play by Grae Kessinger, who was a late sub.
Obviously, it would have been nice if the Astros could have closed the series out, but the exhilaration that we all felt was very real.
3. The Astros double-header sweep over the Yanks in the 2022 regular season.
I know this was a pair of regular season games, but they felt more important than that. Up until that point, the Yanks looked like they had a slight edge over the Astros. However, it looked like this double header sweep gave Houston the confidence they needed to win in October.
Game 1 was close throughout but the Astros blew a save in the ninth inning. Yordan Alvarez made a triumphant return from the IL in the bottom of the ninth to pinch hit, but the Yankees walked him. The Astros had runners’ on second and third with no out, but a pair of strikeouts would put all the pressure on JJ Matijevic to get a hit. After losing two heartbreakers in the Bronx a few months prior, it felt like the Astros needed to make a statement.
Luckily, Matijevic hit a grounder that found a hole in the shift to drive in the winning run.
The Astros won in game 2 of the double header courtesy of a great game from Yordan Alvarez.
2. 2021 ALDS game four victory over the White Sox.
This game was very satisfying. Houston gave up an early lead, but thanks to some great hitting by almost everyone in the lineup they were able to win in a 10-1 blowout. The cherry on top was when Altuve hit a monster shot in the top of the ninth to extend the lead to nine runs. Earlier in the game, Altuve was hit by a pitch and the White Sox faithful erupted in jeers. Altuve’s homer to run up the score in the ninth felt like a good way to pay them back.
1.The strike’em-out-throw’em-out double play in game six of the 2021 ALCS.
The whole series was a lot of fun. The Astros looked dead to rights going into game four, but they battled back to take a 3-2 lead going back to Houston. I think I speak for most fans when I say that I was nervous going into game six. However, the Astros played a great all-around game to take home the pennant.
In the top of the seventh, with the Astros leading by two runs, the Sox’ had runners on the corners with only one out; Kendall Graveman struck out Travis Shaw and catcher Martín Maldonado threw out Alex Verdugo at second base to end the inning. The Astros would add to their lead later in the game, so maybe this play was not as consequential as it appeared at the time, but it was a huge sigh of relief to cut the threat down. Also, this was one of the last signature moments that Carlos Correa was apart of.
The Astros won the pennant in 2021, but lost to Atlanta in World Series. Of course, this is not what we wanted, but American League championships should be celebrated nonetheless!
What were some forgotten moments that stood out for you? Comment below!