Jose Altuve Breaks Hit Record; Houston Astros Lose 4-2

If there’s any takeaways from this season, it’s this…

Jose Altuve is your newest hits champion within a season.

Not losing 100 games this season and not breaking some other futility record will be imminent but Altuve’s record-breaking night yesterday will be the one to hang your hat on and reminisce as time goes by.

This season may be long forgotten but the memory of the record will be vivid.

Even Craig Biggio was in attendance last night to see him break the record which was likely at his current pace.

Sep 16, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman

(27) tips his helmet after hitting a double during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Altuve tied an Astros record with 210 hits in a season. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The hit that tied the record was a double and as Altuve got on-base, he tipped his hat off to Biggio in the stands.

What an admirable gesture…

Two career Astros players communicating with each other from one generation to the next.

I’m sure Enos Cabell had the same feeling when his 195-hit record was broken by Biggio because it had been intact for nearly 20 years.

Miguel Tejada did come close in the 2009 season to be the champ but he ended up finishing with 199 hits.

I remember that year — it was another bad one overall but I was proud of the progress that he was making and the talks of him surpassing Biggio didn’t surface because he was still about 11 hits off at the end of that season.

In the 1998 season, Derek Bell and Biggio were jockeying for position to be the champ, the numbers were constantly in flux but Biggio came out the victor.

Anyway, what an amazing night, let’s get to it!

The Indians were the first to strike!

At the top of the 1st inning, Carlos Santana grounded out to Altuve which made an amazing defensive play scooping up the ball and throwing to Nick Tropeano who got Santana out at 1st.  However, Michael Bourn was able score and Michael Brantley was able to advance to 2nd.  Altuve had to pick his poison on that play and it turned out the be the right call.  Bourn and Brantley had gotten on-base with each getting a single.  Indians 1, Astros 0

At the bottom of the 1st, Marwin Gonzalez singled to right scoring Altuve and advancing Chris Carter to 2nd base tying the game.  Altuve got on-base by grounding into a force out and Carter singled.  Astros 1, Indians 1

Then the defense tightened up…

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At the top of the 4th, Yan Gomes singled to left, working the 5-6 gap scoring Lonnie Chisenhall but Robbie Grossman bobbled the catch and Gomes was able to advance to 2nd.  Indians 2, Astros 1

Hit No. 210

At the bottom of the 5th, Altuve was up to bat after Grossman struck out and he doubled to left getting hit No. 210 tying Biggio.  It looked seemingly routine but the crowd went wild over it!  It was the 82 miles-per-hour curve ball by Corey Kluber that did him in and it was just the 2nd pitch to Altuve at his at-bat!

And here’s where the damage was done by the Tribe…

At the top of the 6th, Gomes homered to left scoring Carlos Santana.  Indians 4, Astros 1

The Astros tried to strike back but it wasn’t enough…

Hit No. 211

At the bottom of the 7th, Altuve broke the record.  Kluber was once again the victim as he singled to center with Michael Bourn, a former Astro himself, catching the ball.  It only took one pitch and was able to take Kluber’s 89 miles-per-hour slider and smack himself into the history books.  Oh by the way, Gregorio Petit did advance to 2nd base.

Sep 16, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Fans hold signs after Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (not pictured) gets his 211th hit of the season during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

There were only 18,381 fans in attendance but the crowd seemed to be as loud as a sell-out game.

The last scoring play for the team was in the bottom of the 8th, where Alex Presley singled to left scoring Gonzalez and advancing Max Stassi to 2nd base.  Gonzalez had grounded into a force out getting on-base and Stassi had singled at his at-bat.  Indians 4, Astros 2

Tropeano didn’t look too shabby as he allowed four hits, one earned run, two walks and stuck out four.

It was Altuve’s night but it’s important to note that two Astros players — Gonzalez and Stassi — each chipped in with two hits a piece.

I just wished the Astros were able to win which would’ve made the night even sweeter but take a bow Jose, you’re the champ and I’m sure you’ll break many more records as your career blossoms.

The Astros do it again tonight against the Tribe.  The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at The Juicebox.

Brett Oberholtzer has been given the nod and will go up against Carlos Carrasco.

Go ‘Stros!