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09/23 02:00 CDT Triple Crown still within reach for Astros slugger Yordan
Alvarez after big game in Seattle
Triple Crown still within reach for Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez after big
game in Seattle
By LUKE OLSON
Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) --- Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez gained some ground
Tuesday night in his chase for a Triple Crown.
He still has plenty of work to do this week.
The AL MVP front-runner went 2 for 4 with his 41st home run and three RBIs in
the Astros' 7-0 win over the Seattle Mariners. Alvarez hit an RBI single in the
first inning, was intentionally walked in the second and then belted a 386-foot
homer in the eighth with a 109.5 mph exit velocity.
"At this point, I keep wondering why guys are pitching to him," Houston first
baseman Christian Walker said. "He just seems to come through in every moment.
He's dangerous at the plate right now."
Alvarez, who is quiet and shows little emotion, orchestrated a team meeting
after the Astros (78-79) were swept by Atlanta on Sunday, squandering their
lead in the AL West. His performance on Tuesday was much-needed to put Houston
in a tie with the Texas Rangers atop the division with five games left this
season.
"He's been backing it up all year," Astros manager Joe Espada said.
Alvarez's two-run shot to right field tied him with Junior Caminero of the
Tampa Bay Rays for the American League lead with 41 homers. Alvarez is first in
batting average at .314 --- five points ahead of Tampa Bay's Chandler Simpson
--- and he has 102 RBIs, six behind Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso for
most in the AL.
Alonso drove in three runs with two homers Monday against Toronto, but the
teams were rained out Tuesday in Baltimore because of bad weather. They are
scheduled to play a split doubleheader Wednesday.
Alvarez has six homers since Aug. 1, and the 29-year-old designated hitter has
eight RBIs over 17 games in September. He'll need more to become baseball's
first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
Alvarez leads the AL in slugging percentage (.601), OPS (1.032), total bases
(329) and walks (106). Logan Gilbert intentionally walked Alvarez in the second
inning Tuesday, which was the 33rd time for Alvarez this season, already a
franchise record.
It's been a historic season for the four-time All-Star after he was limited to
48 games in 2025 because of a broken hand and an ankle injury.
If he wins the AL MVP award, the Cuban slugger will join Shohei Ohtani of the
Los Angeles Dodgers as the only players to win an MVP award while primarily
serving as a designated hitter. Othani was close to winning a Triple Crown in
2024 after leading the NL in homers (50) and RBIs (130), but his .310 average
fell just short to Luis Arrez's .314.
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