The Houston Astros earned a 5-3 win against the New York Yankees in a tense 10-inning game at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. This victory improved Houston’s record to 65-51, keeping them 1.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West, while the Yankees fell to 61-55, maintaining only a half-game lead in the race for the final wild card spot.
Jose Altuve was a key contributor in the win, going 2-for-4 and hitting his 20th home run of the season during the first inning, which brought in two RBIs. This milestone pushed Altuve higher on the Houston Astros’ all-time list of players with 20 or more home run seasons.
Altuve’s Place Among Houston’s Home Run Leaders
According to franchise records dating back to 1962, Altuve’s latest 20-homer campaign marked his seventh season reaching this power milestone. This ties him with Jim Wynn and places him among some of the most prolific hitters in Astros history. The leaderboards are topped by Jeff Bagwell with 12 seasons of 20-plus homers, followed by Lance Berkman with 10 and Craig Biggio with 8. Glenn Davis holds six such seasons, and four other players are tied at five.
“Most career 20+ home run seasons by a player in @astros franchise history (1962-):12- Jeff Bagwell10- Lance Berkman8- Craig Biggio7- Jose Altuve (Via his 1st inning 2-run shot in tonight’s 10 inning 5-3 victory over the Yankees)7- Jim Wynn6- Glenn Davis5- Four others tied pic.twitter.com/U8Fj07qQ1T” —StatsCentre
Altuve’s Continued Impact as an Elite Astros Player
Jose Altuve remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the franchise. At 35 years old, he is a nine-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger award recipient, three-time batting champion, two-time World Series winner, and a Gold Glove recipient. Currently, he is hitting .282 with 20 home runs, 61 RBIs, and eight stolen bases this season, while maintaining a .344 on-base percentage.
Upcoming Matchup: Astros and Yankees to Face Off Again
The Astros will meet the Yankees once more on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium. Houston will send left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound, who has been having a strong season with an 11-3 record and a 2.83 ERA. The Yankees will counter with Luis Gil, who is making only his second start of the year after recovering from injury and holds an 0-1 record.
Context on Current Standings and Player Highlights
Houston’s win over New York solidifies their position in the AL West while the Yankees remain in a close contest for a postseason wild card spot. Valdez’s consistency as a starting pitcher has been instrumental in Houston’s strong run this season, contrasting with Gil’s limited appearances due to injury. Meanwhile, Altuve continues to exhibit the blend of power and consistency that has made him a cornerstone for the Astros over many years.