Late-game heroics help Astros stun Rangers in ALCS Game 5

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 5 in the ALCS against the Texas Rangers. Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

Late-game heroics help Astros stun Rangers in Game 5 of ALCS

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/20/23

Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers had everything, from a bench-clearing altercation to dramatic go-ahead home runs. Ultimately, the Astros used late-game heroics to win 5-4, taking a 3-2 series advantage.

Here are three takeaways from the Astros' colossal victory.

Jose Altuve is captain clutch in the playoffs: The Astros trailed the Rangers 4-2 in the ninth inning, but Altuve stepped up with Houston down to their last three outs. With two men on, he upper-cutted a 0-1 pitch from closer Jose Leclerc out of the ballpark for a colossal three-run home run, giving the Astros a 5-4 lead in the blink of an eye. Altuve now has 10 career go-ahead postseason long balls, passing Albert Pujols for the most in MLB history, per ESPN Stats and Info. It was Altuve's only hit of the game and it couldn't have come at a better time, as it helped the Astros head home one win away from returning to the World Series.

JOSE ALTUVE FOR THE LEAD!! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/uUlrRc9b5f
— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2023

Rangers may have woken Astros up after Adolis Garcia HBP: In the bottom of the eighth, two innings after smashing a go-ahead three-run home run, Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia got plunked by a fastball with questionable motives in his next at-bat. Benches cleared, resulting in several ejections. However, the 11-minute pause in the action may have negatively impacted Leclerc, who was waiting in the dugout to close out the ninth after entering the game the previous inning. Leclerc allowed the first two batters he faced to reach in the ninth before giving up a three-run shot to Altuve, blowing the save and Game 5.

Benches have cleared in Arlington. pic.twitter.com/F1abofICpX
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2023

Home team struggles continue in ALCS: Garcia's sixth-inning bomb looked like it might shift the trend, but Altuve's hero ball kept it going. Following the Astros victory on Friday, the home team has won all five games of the ALCS, with the Rangers taking the first two in Houston before dropping three straight at Globe Life Field. It doesn't bode well for Houston, however, as they'll have to snap the streak if they hope to defend their title with Game 6 and a potential Game 7, taking place in Houston.

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