Although the Houston Astros’ lost 10-3 at home to the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 19, there was a brief, bright moment of celebration when veteran infielder Jose Altuve collected his 2,000th career hit.
The 33-year-old second baseman became the third player in franchise history to join the exclusive club when he ripped a single that bounced off the out-of-town scoreboard at Minute Maid Park.
“I know we lost today and not in a good way, but I’m really happy and thankful with my teammates, my family and God,” Altuve, who joined the Astros organization as a teenager and went on to become its most recognized player, said in a news report on MLB.com. “Two thousand is a huge accomplishment.” Altuve went 3-for-5 at the plate, the MLB story said.
Altuve now sits behind the famed duo of Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell, who registered 2,314 hits, and Craig Biggio, who has 3,060 hits to his name. The 5-foot-6 Venezuelan became the seventh active player and the first to make his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2011 or later to reach the rarified plateau, the news story said.
ESPN reports that after Altuve got the milestone hit, he was tagged out at second as he tried to stretch the hit to a double. That didn’t stop the fans and the team from showering him with cheers and applause.
“That’s quite an accomplishment,” fourth-year skipper Dusty Baker told ESPN. “A couple other Hall of Famers here got 2,000 hits. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and be around for the next 1,000.”
Earlier this year, the Astros had to begin their title defense without Altuve, who sustained an injury during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and missed a chunk of the first half of the season.
