Altuve, Alvarez help All-Star case with game-changing homers

HOUSTON -- In the series finale vs. the Royals, Yordan Álvarez and Jose Altuve used their bats to send a notice to MLB fans: Vote for them to start in the All-Star Game.

Alvarez and Altuve each homered in the fifth inning to help the Astros to a 5-2 win over the Royals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday.

They, along with Astros manager Dusty Baker and his staff, will be representing the team in Los Angeles on July 19. The pair were the top vote-getters in their respective positions in the first round, with Altuve receiving 1,925,693 votes, and Alvarez receiving 2,215,456 votes.

Neither Alvarez or Altuve were top vote-getters in the American League, meaning they have to go through the second phase of voting to start in the Midsummer Classic. With votes being wiped from phase one, the two players need to prove their case as to why they should start before voting closes Friday at 1:00 p.m. CT.

• VOTE NOW: Help make Yordan, Altuve All-Star starters

The statement sent by the players is best encapsulated by what Alex Bregman said before the game: “Go vote for Yordan, and go vote for Altuve.”

This will be Altuve's eighth All-Star selection and would be his fifth starting assignment in the big game. The second baseman has shown all year long with his success at the plate, especially in the leadoff role, that he is deserving to start.

The Venezuelan is tied with George Springer for first in the Majors League with seven leadoff homers. In his career, Altuve has 28 leadoff homers, which places him third in franchise history behind Craig Biggio (53) and Springer (39).

Overall, the longtime Astro has done what he has done throughout his career, putting up impressive numbers. He is on top of most categories among all second basemen: First in homers (17), OPS (.907) and slugging percentage (.539). He ranks second in on-base percentage (.368).

It was no surprise that when Altuve had a chance to tie the game in the fifth inning, he did so by crushing a 371-foot homer to the Crawford Boxes in left.

“It was great, especially Altuve getting us on the board,” Baker said. “It was a much needed day off yesterday. It seemed like it helped him quite a bit.”

After Altuve tied the game, Alvarez stepped up to do what he has done all season long: show up when the team needed it the most.

Alvarez did just that in the fifth inning when he hit a solo shot to left field that went 355 feet. It was not the powerful blast that we are accustomed to with the slugger, as it would have been a homer only at Minute Maid Park, but it was an important one to give the Astros the lead for the first time in the game.

It marked Alvarez’s 26th homer of the year, which puts him third in the Majors. His ability to crush the ball has garnered him an invite to the Home Run Derby, but he has not decided if he will participate.

Regardless, the outfielder/designated hitter has not only built a case for him to start the All-Star Game (his first All-Star selection), but to be the AL MVP. He leads the Majors in OPS (1.075) and slugging percentage (.665), while he is fourth in on-base percentage (.410).

“Yordan hits every day,” Altuve said. “We enjoy the way he goes out there and does everything he does. It seems like every day he comes ready to hit the ball.”

The Astros trailed in every game this series, falling behind 2-0 by the fourth inning on Thursday. Luckily for Houston, Justin Verlander locked in the rest of the way, finishing the day allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings with eight strikeouts.

The win brings the Astros to 54-28, and gave Baker his 2,041 career win, which puts him ninth all time on the managers' win list.

“It was a really tough series,” Baker said. “Four-game series are always tough. These guys played us tough every game. We don’t expect anything different when you’re playing a Major League team.”