By Jose de Jesus Ortiz
As the Astros dressed forbatting practice Monday, Jose Altuve walked over to Carlos Correa and asked him to wear the "Showrrea" T-shirts the rookie shortstop gave his teammates Saturday night.
Correa asked Altuve if it would be OK with manager A.J. Hinch, and the All-Star second baseman told him it would be fine.
Pointing out that the Astros hadn't lost since they started wearing the T-shirts, Altuve encouraged Correa and several other teammates to keep wearing the shirts with the rookie phenom's favorite moniker.
Correa and Altuve donned their Showrrea T-shirts for batting practice and then helped Dallas Keuchel lead the Astros to a 6-3 victory to open a crucial three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park.
On the eve of his 21st birthday, Correa finished with three RBIs and fell a triple shy of the cycle before a crowd of 25,318. He singled in the first, hit a two-run homer in the third, and doubled in a run in the seventh.
"Those shirts are something we've enjoyed since the first day he gave them to us," Altuve said. "We want to use those shirts, and it's very good that we're winning.
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"We're playing good baseball like we know we can play at home. All these games that are coming up are very important."
Altuve, a three-time All-Star and the reigning AL batting champ, was equally important while delivering his major league-leading 20th three-hit game of the season.
Altuve also made a run at the cycle with a double in the third, a single in the fifth, and a triple in the seventh.
He settled for a 3-for-4 performance on a night left fielder Shane Victorino made a sensational running catch to rob him of a leadoff double in the first.
Credit to Altuve
"It's not the job that (Altuve) did today. It's the job that he's been doing throughout the whole season," Correa said. "He's the guy that sets the tone for the lineup, and he's been great the whole season, not just today.
"He's been a great leadoff guy for us, and he's given us a lot of chances to win ballgames."
With the victory, the Astros moved within a game of the AL West-leading Rangers. They lead the race for the second AL wild card by three games over the Twins and 3½ games over the Angels.
The Astros have won three in a row for the first time since they swept a three-game interleague series against the Dodgers on Aug. 21-23.
They have found their footing after a disastrous 2-8 trip through Oakland, Anaheim and Arlington before beginning this nine-game homestand.
Fever of pennant race
"It's really fun," Correa said. "For the last couple of years, the Astros have been playing in September just to play and finish the season and finish the schedule. For us to be able to play now with games that matter that are important, every single at-bat is important. Every single grounder hit at you is important. It's really fun. That's what we want to play from now on. We want to be able to play in September like it matters. We want to play to try to make the playoffs."
Correa is one of only21 players in major league history to hit 19 home runs before their 21st birthday. Eight of those 21 players are enshrined in Cooperstown. That list of Hall of Famers includes Mel Ott, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Al Kaline, Ted Williams, Orlando Cepeda, Eddie Mathews and Willie Mays.
"How he's handled being in the spotlight on a playoff-contending team is nothing short of spectacular," Hinch said of Correa. "I'm very proud of this kid, how he goes about his business, and how he interacts with his teammates.
"He can do a lot on the field. We see it every day. We're very spoiled, and the fans of Houston are going to enjoy Carlos and his contributions, we hope, for a long time. I'm really proud he's on our team."
Sports Writer, Houston Chronicle
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