Yordan Álvarez made sure his team meeting worked in Astros' pummeling of Mariners

For one night, at least, the message was received.

In Houston's first game since a team meeting led by Yordan Alvarez, the Astros emerged victorious over the Seattle Mariners 7-0. It was an outcome the Astros had only managed in two of their previous 11 games with Seattle this season.

Alvarez, while recognized as a team leader, chooses to lead by example as opposed to fiery speeches. However, after the team dropped it final three home games of the season to the Atlanta Braves in whimpering fashion, Alvarez expressed his frustrations and did his best to rally his team together for one more week for a final postseason push.

Alvarez referred to the three losses against Atlanta at Daikin Park as "three slaps in the face", and was visibly disgruntled when meeting with the media afterwards. Alvarez is known for his stoicness, never appearing to high or low based on how things are going. His steady, even approach to everything is often cited as the biggest reason for his exceptional consistency at the plate.

Then a game behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West with 6 games remaining, Houston entered Seattle, where they were 2-8 in their last 10 games at T-Mobile Park and 2-9 vs. the Mariners overall this season.

Yordan Alvarez led the way for the Astros starting from the first inning, and continued it through the eighth. He was going to lead by example, as he usually does, and ensure his team won it's first game post-meeting.

Alvarez ripped a single to right, opening the scoring by driving in Jeremy Pena two batters into the game to give Houston an early 1-0 lead.

Yordan then crushed a slider from Carlos Vargas for a 2-run HR in the eighth to close out the scoring in style, putting a cap on a 2x4 night with a HR, 3 RBI, and a walk.

Alvarez raised his average to an AL-best .314. The HR, his 41st of the season, has him in a tie for the league lead in longballs as well. With 102 RBI, he is 6 behind Pete Alonso of the Baltimore Orioles for tops in the American League.

It may have been only one night, it may have been only one game, but Yordan Alvarez delivered on every word he said on Sunday. He may continue to do so for the remaining five games of the season, and the postseason.

What is certain is that with his team reeling going into the final week of the season, the best hitter in the American League rallied his teammates, put them on his back, and made sure he carried them to victory.

The future MVP doing MVP things, at least for one night.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Yordan Alvarez led the way for the Astros starting from the first inning, and continued it through the eighth. He was going to lead by example, as he usually does, and ensure his team won it's first game post-meeting.

Schedule