Astros after move into first place in division: 'Sweep in the heart of Texas'

Having been dealt the sting of three straight home losses by the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros knew just how pivotal their last series against division and intrastate rival Texas was to their postseason hopes. The incumbent World Series champions, who were staring at the sixth and final American League Wild Card spot as of Labor Day, occupy first place in the AL West after delivering three consecutive double-digit victories against the Rangers.

"Sweep in the heart of Texas,” the Astros said in a Sept. 6 post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The biggest takeaway from the crucial matchups against Texas was the Astros’ seemingly unstoppable offense, with face of the franchise Jose Altuve leading the way to the tune of five homeruns, including three consecutive in the 14-1 win Sept. 5, according to a Major League Baseball report. Altuve joined an exclusive fraternity of players to homer in the first three innings of a game.

“It’s a good thing to do, especially the situation we are in right now, trying to win the division,” Altuve, who missed much of the start of the title defense because of an injury sustained during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, said in the MLB report.

The team’s other Jose, first baseman Jose Abreu, provided the fireworks at-bat in the concluding 12-3 romp, chipping in an early grand slam and a three-run shot to essentially put the game out of the Rangers’ reach, MLB reported.

“If there’s one person that gets impressed by what this team can do, it’s me, because I’m new here,” Abreu, who came to Houston via a trade with the Chicago White Sox, said in the report. “I think that this organization, these guys, when the lights are shining bright, they know how to handle things, they know how to do things well. I'm just very grateful to be part of this, as well.”

Houston left North Texas having outscored their hosts, 39-10, and outhitting them, 50-22, as well as banging out a franchise-record 16 homers Sept. 4-6. The last meeting between the Astros and the Rangers was also the first time former teammates Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer dueled, with the former collecting the win, MLB reported. 

Ahead for the Astros is a return to Minute Maid Park where they’ll host the San Diego Padres in a three-game tilt, according to the MLB report.