Rookies set stage for Astros' G1 fireworks

HOUSTON -- Before Yordan Alvarez blew the roof off Minute Maid Park with his dramatic three-run, walk-off homer to beat the Mariners, 8-7, in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday, there were two clutch plate appearances by a pair of Astros rookies.

David Hensley, who pinch-hit in the ninth, reached on a hit-by-pitch, and shortstop Jeremy Peña, who was hitless in his first four at-bats, stroked a two-out, two-strike single to center to keep the ninth alive and set the stage for Alvarez to play the hero. The performances by Hensley and Peña in the clutch weren’t lost on their Astros teammates, especially pitcher Justin Verlander.

“Not to go overlooked here is the first playoff at-bat for Hensley,” Verlander said. “Peña’s staying on a slider and hitting it back up the middle. What an at-bat that was from a rookie in the biggest at-bat of his career. And, obviously, Yordan is one of, if not the best, hitters in baseball, doing what he does.

“Yordan’s going to get all the credit on this one, but us here in the [locker room] after the game, we made sure to mention those guys. Those at-bats were not overlooked here in this clubhouse, and that’s what makes this team so special. It’s not just one person, it’s top to bottom. All guys."

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Hensley, a 26-year-old who made his debut earlier this year, pinch-hit for Mauricio Dubón with one out in the ninth, facing reliever Paul Sewald. He fouled off a pair of two-strike pitches before Sewald brushed his jersey with a pitch -- enough for him to take first base, where he was replaced by pinch-runner Jake Meyers.

“They told me I was going to get a chance to hit right there, so I came inside and got prepared,” Hensley said. “I was talking to the hitting coaches and understanding what he was going to throw, what it was going to look like and doing my best to mentally prepare. I’m feeling pretty good at the plate right now so I got in there …

“I wouldn't say there was any pressure, but I would say it was trusting in my abilities and knowing I could get the job done. The way it played out, I think I was a little bit late throughout the at-bat. I don’t know if I was ready. He’s got a weird little arm angle. That’s just exciting, and to help the team win a game like [this], I don’t really have too many words for it.”

After Jose Altuve struck out for the second out, it was up to Peña to keep Houston’s hopes alive. He fell behind, 0-2, and took a slider for a ball on the third pitch of the at-bat before stroking another slider into center field for a single to put runners at first and second for Alvarez.

“The plan was just to get a good pitch to hit, and I fell behind early,” Peña said. “I swung at a bad pitch, and I knew he was going to double up and die with that pitch, so I made the adjustments.”

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman also made sure to give some love to the kids.

“Hensley’s a guy who got here in September, and he’s not scared,” he said. “He goes up there against one of the better relievers in all of baseball and puts together a great at-bat.”

And Peña?

“He gets down in the count, 1-2, laces a slider up the middle to give Yordan that opportunity,” Bregman said. “It's what this team does in the postseason. We try and pass the torch to the next guy and we were fortunate enough we did that today.”