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Jose Altuve's fate at end of Astros' Game 1 loss might haunt Houston fans

Eric Cole
Eric Cole

Climbing Tal's Hill

Los Angeles Angels v Houston Astros / Kevin M. Cox/GettyImages

Well, the Houston Astros' first playoff game of 2024 did not go according to plan at all. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal was almost untouchable, and Framber Valdez's very rocky second inning put the Astros in a hole. For a team that has the most playoff experience amongst the teams remaining this year, Houston somehow managed to look like the team that was being overwhelmed by the moment -- and by this seemingly fearless Tigers squad.

However, the ninth inning brought an opportunity for redemption. Tigers closer Jason Foley clearly didn't have it, and some lucky bounces and a fortunate umpire call gave the Astros a run to cut the deficit to 3-1. Chas McCormick miraculously loaded the bases with a walk, and the guy that essentially won Houston's division clinching game by himself, Jason Heyward, was at the plate with two outs and the bags juiced.

Sadly, Heyward lined out to first to end the game -- with one of the best postseason hitters of his generation, Jose Altuve, sitting on deck wondering what might have been.

Houston's ninth inning rally falls short as Astros lose with Altuve sitting on deck

Look, Heyward did nothing wrong here. He hit a line drive laser that just happened to find Spencer Torkelson's glove. If that ball gets through, the game is at least tied, if not won on the spot with McCormick running from first and that ball seemingly headed for the right field corner. The Astros finally put together a decent offensive inning against a Tigers pitching staff that had given them fits all day. That's something to be proud of.

However, the image of the best postseason hitter in Astros' history sitting on deck looking ready to deliver will linger. Altuve didn't have a great game by his lofty standards, as he went 1-for-4 witha dunker, but he was about to come up in a spot where he has come up big time and time again against a shook Detroit bullpen. Instead, he and Astros fans had to sit and wonder what might have been if he had gotten to the plate.

There is no point in dwelling too much on it, as the Astros have to do this all again tomorrow. Unfortunately, they will have play for their season a game down against a hot Tigers team and without Valdez, who has been Houston's best pitcher this season. Hopefully, Altuve can summon some more magic then.

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Eric Cole

Eric Cole

I started my career writing about baseball covering the Atlanta Braves for SB Nation's Talking Chop back in 2015 which has since been renamed Battery Power. After years of writing for those fine folks, I made the decision to take over as Site Expert at House That Hank Built before becoming a full-time MLB Staff Writer for FanSided in 2023. Along the way, I have been a guest on multiple ESPN radio affiliates as well as 680 The Fan and 92.9 The Game to discuss Braves baseball and especially Braves prospects and was a long-time host on the Battery Power podcast. These days, I continue to write about the Braves as well as covering the Astros, Padres, and Angels with particular expertise with minor league coverage, the MLB Draft, and bashing Anthony Rendon when possible. When I am not writing about or talking about baseball (which is seldom), I am an avid baseball card collector (Maddux and Soroka being my primary personal collections) and I also collect shark teeth. All other sports are mostly dead to me as my Bills have broken my heart too many times.