When asked what Carlos Correa represents to the Houston Astros after his big swing propelled them into the playoffs on Thursday night, Jose Altuve went right to the point.
The top second baseman stated, “We are where we are because of him.”
Correa smashed his career-high 25th homer with a three-run rocket and the Astros secured the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
It’s the Astros’ fourth division title in five seasons, and their tenth overall.
Correa responded, “That sounds very special.”
Houston is in the playoffs for the sixth year in a row, which is a franchise record.
“They’re used to winning and we detest losing. “And now it’s time to have some fun,” manager Dusty Baker added.
The Astros will face the Chicago White Sox in the AL Division Series on Oct. 7; the home field for that best-of-five series has yet to be chosen. This season, the Astros went 5-2 versus the White Sox.
In Baker’s first season with the team, Houston was a wild-card team. So where did this game-winning victory rank on his list?
“Every time you win, you get a higher ranking than before. And winning is something you never get tired of,” he added.
Correa’s game-winning hit in the fourth inning allowed the Astros to put a recent five-game losing streak behind them and start celebrating at Minute Maid Park.
“That was exactly what we needed,” Correa said. “Scoring has been difficult for us over the last week, and we haven’t been hitting the bat well. But ideally we can keep this momentum going over the next few days, become hot, and ride it into the playoffs.”
After the final out, Astros mascot Orbit came onto the field, brandishing a giant orange banner proclaiming their division championship as the players rejoiced and embraced.
Altuve added, “I’m proud of my squad.” “They worked tirelessly throughout the season to make this happen.”
In the ninth inning, Tampa Bay, which has already won the top spot in the AL playoffs, put runners on first and second with no outs but failed to score.
Wander Franco was 0 for 4 for the Rays, ending a 43-game on-base streak that tied Frank Robinson for the longest among players 20 and younger in MLB history.
