Gregory Bull/Associated Press
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker will not be making a change at second base despite a sudden case of the yips by Jose Altuve.
The former MVP committed his fourth error of the postseason during Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Altuve entered the game with his three errors leading to five runs scored by Tampa Bay.
Houston is now down 3-0 in the series and one loss away from elimination.
Game 4 is set for Wednesday at 8:40 p.m. ET on TBS.
As much as Altuve’s glove has hurt the Astros, there’s no denying how valuable he’s been at the plate.
The 30-year-old is slashing .314/.442/.657 with four homers, eight RBI and seven walks. Altuve’s latest home run came in the first inning Tuesday and gave Houston a brief 1-0 lead.
But it was Altuve’s sixth-inning error that put the Rays right back in the game when Brandon Lowe reached on a fielder’s choice. Altuve’s poor throw missed any chance of nabbing Randy Arozarena at second base. Yandy Diaz singled in the next at-bat, and Joey Wendle drove in two runs three pitches later.
Tampa Bay would continue to pour on runs, building a 5-1 lead by the time the frame ended.
Regardless, Baker is sticking with one of the Astros’ leaders in the field.
After a regular season with just four errors total, the veteran skipper is hoping his second baseman can work it out himself—or at least provide enough offense to mitigate the damage.
