The Houston Astros secured their sixth straight postseason spot after Yordan Alvarez hit three home runs in his first three at-bats while Justin Verlander pitched five hitless innings helping the team secure a 5-0 win against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
Alvarez hit three 430-foot home runs, the first to do so since Nelson Cruz in 2019, according to ESPN. Alvarez is sitting at a career-high 36 home runs and is tied for second in the AL. He also hit solo shots against Adrián Martínez during the first, third and fifth innings.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS HIT RECORD-TYING SEVEN SOLO HOME RUN’S — BUT STILL LOSE 8-7
Alvarez is now the first with three 430-foot home runs in a game since Nelson Cruz on July 25, 2019. https://t.co/v4nr0RRH2S
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 17, 2022
“It’s pretty cool when a major league player can make other major league players be in awe,” Verlander told the Associated Press. “It’s not something that happens all too often. And that was kind of one of those moments where everybody is just like: ‘My goodness.’ It’s just incredible what he’s able to do.”
THREE HOMERS IN THREE AT-BATS FOR YORDAN. pic.twitter.com/YCKyBJJ5lN
— MLB (@MLB) September 17, 2022
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The Astros have 95-50 overall record and 49-22 at home while the Athletics have a 52-93 record overall. The two teams will face off against each other for the 18th time this season on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. EDT.