Best Houston Astros Moments from the 2021 Season

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

After a few years away, Jason Castro has his biggest at-bat as an Astro.

All misguided Jeff Passan articles aside, the momentum shift that took place on Jason Castro’s single to right field was more than just in Game 4 of the ALCS. It lasted the rest of the series.

After Altuve tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to make the score 2-2, what seemed like an inevitability of a Red Sox LCS win now finally felt like it was a series again.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora is no stranger to bringing in whichever pitcher he feels gives him the best chance to win now, regardless of their role as a reliever or starter. He chose to bring in Nathan Eovaldi. To this point in his postseason career as a manger, Cora could do no wrong.

But a lead off double by Carlos Correa put pressure on Eovaldi. It looked like it would be all for naught as Eovaldi struck out Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Diaz (with an intentional walk to Yuli Gurriel in between.)

Then Jason Castro stepped to the plate. Castro had been clutch all season and with a 2-2 count, he took a close pitch up and away.

The pitch clipped the zone but it was called a ball (and for the record on the season pitches like that got called strikes only 30 percent of the time) and Castro took advantage of his second chance knocking a base hit into right field and setting off what would eventually be a seven run inning and an Astros win.

That was the biggest momentum shift in the series, but the most memorable moment of the series? Well we all know that one.

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