Altuve snaps historic postseason hitless streak in G3

NEW YORK — Jose Altuve seems to have a knack for big moments in the Bronx, so perhaps it made sense for him to put an end to what had been a surprising lack of offense when the AL Championship Series shifted to Yankee Stadium on Saturday night.

In Game 3, with the Astros leading the best-of-seven series, 2-0, Altuve sliced a double to the right-field corner off Yankees starter — and former teammate — Gerrit Cole. The fifth-inning hit was Altuve’s first this postseason, coming in Houston’s sixth game played.

At 0-for-25, Altuve’s skid was the second-longest hitless streak in a single postseason, trailing only Robinson Canó’s 0-for-29 stretch for the Yankees in 2012. It’s also a Major League record for the longest hitless streak to start a postseason.

Though Altuve didn’t come around to score on the one-out knock — Jeremy Peña grounded out and Yordan Alvarez struck out to end the threat — the Astros’ dugout was enthused to see a ball struck by one of their biggest bats finally land in the field rather than a glove.