|
 Altuve singled home the Astros' first run in the sixth inning and
scored the go-ahead run on the next pitch as Houston reached 70 wins
and assured itself of a fourth-place finish in the American League
West with a 3-1 win over the New York Mets on Friday night at Citi
Field.
"Take a deep breath and go 'Ah, we got to 70,'" interim Astros
manager Tom Lawless said. "Now we try for 71, 72. That's the whole
idea. That's our mindset: to go out and compete and win games."
The Astros (70-90) last won 70 games in 2010. They hadn't even
reached 60 wins or sniffed fourth place in any of the preceding
three seasons, during which they went 162-324 and finished last
twice in the National League Central and once in the AL West, where
the Astros moved before last season.
"We're going in the right direction," Lawless said. "We're doing a
lot of things right. And if we continue on this program that we're
on, we're going to be in the midst of things pretty soon."
Altuve hopes pretty soon means 2015.
"Our 70th win, it's a big improvement from last year to this year,"
Altuve said. "Next year, we're going to be even better. And I think
we can be in the playoff race."
By going 1-for-4 on Friday, Altuve moved one step closer to
outlasting Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez in the AL
batting race. Altuve's average dropped a point to .342, but
Martinez's average also dipped a point -- from .337 to .336 -- after
he also went 1-for-4 in the Tigers' 11-4 loss to the Minnesota
Twins.
"It would mean a lot to me to win the batting title -- first time
for the franchise," Altuve said. "But five, six points, that's
nothing for Victor in two days."
The Astros got little going against Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese
in the first five innings, but he exited with one out and nobody on
in the sixth because of an elevated heart rate.
"He'll get some further tests done," Mets manager Terry Collins
said. "Certainly, it's something you can't mess with. At the time,
it was really racing fast, so we took him out."
The Astros wasted no time jumping on Niese's replacement,
right-hander Carlos Torres (8-6). Left fielder Robbie Grossman
welcomed Torres with a double and scored on a single by Altuve.
First baseman Chris Carter followed with a double. Altuve was waved
home, but the throw from second baseman Wilmer Flores beat Altuve.
However, catcher Anthony Recker dropped it and home plate umpire
Hunter Wendelstedt signaled Altuve was safe.
Altuve, who initially sat forlornly on the dirt around home plate,
raced back to touch the plate.
Two batters later, third baseman Matt Dominguez singled Carter home.
The rally made a winner out of left-hander Kevin Chapman (2-0), who
relieved right-handed starter Brad Peacock with two outs in the
fifth and got the final out of the fifth and the first out of the
sixth.
[to top of second column] |
Right-hander Jose DeLeon (two-thirds of an inning), left-hander Tony
Sipp (two innings) and right-hander Chad Qualls (one inning)
combined to retire the final 11 Mets in order. Qualls posted his
19th save.
"Pretty good -- you win a game, you get your hit, you score a run,"
Altuve said. "Everybody had a good game today. Really happy. Two
more games left, let's win them."
Peacock allowed one run, four hits and two walks while striking out
seven but was lifted after throwing 96 pitches.
The Mets (77-83) lost for the third time in four games but remained
in a three-way tie for second place in the National League East with
Atlanta and Miami.
Niese allowed three hits and walked none while striking out four. It
was at least the third time in his career he has left a game due to
an elevated heart rate but the first time since 2012.
"He was very surprised by it, we were surprised by it and you just
have to take precaution and get him out," Collins said.
Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson homered in the fourth inning.
NOTES: Mets OF Bobby Abreu announced his retirement, effective at
the end of the season. Manager Terry Collins hinted strongly that
Abreu would start Sunday's finale. Abreu, 40, is the active leader
in doubles (574) and walks (1,475). ... Collins said Mets C Travis
d'Arnaud won't play this weekend due to a bone chip in his right
elbow that broke off. He will undergo surgery next week and is
expected to be fine for spring training. ... Interim Astros manager
Tom Lawless is scheduled to interview for the permanent position
prior to Saturday's penultimate game of the season. ... Astros RHP
Josh Fields and LHP Darin Downs, each of whom are battling oblique
injuries, remain day-to-day.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
