Altuve’s clutch 3-run HR has Astros 1 win away from World Series

ARLINGTON — In one of the biggest home runs of his tremendous postseason career, Jose Altuve launched a three-run, go-ahead homer in the ninth inning off Rangers closer José Leclerc to send the Astros to a dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind victory in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night at Globe Life Field.

The home run — the 26th of Altuve’s playoff career — came after pinch-hitter Yainer Diaz singled to start the ninth and pinch-hitter Jon Singleton drew a walk. Altuve’s postseason legend only grows, and he’s now three homers behind Manny Ramirez for the most in postseason history.

But that’s only part of the story on this night.

The Rangers took a 4-2 lead in the sixth when Adolis García clubbed a towering three-run homer off Astros starter Justin Verlander. When García, who spiked his bat and had a slow home run trot, came to bat in the eighth, he was struck on the left arm by the first pitch thrown by reliever Bryan Abreu.

García immediately turned to catcher Martín Maldonado in disgust and both benches emptied, though no punches were thrown. Abreu, García and Astros manager Dusty Baker were all ejected.

Needing a win to advance to the World Series, the Astros will send struggling lefty Framber Valdez to the mound for Sunday’s Game 6 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, where the Astros have gone 7-20 in their last 27 games, winning consecutive games only twice in that span (since Aug. 13). Houston has never lost an ALCS Game 6 (4-0), including 3-0 at home.

Teams ahead 3-2 in any best-of-seven postseason series have gone on to win 79 of 112 times (71%), and it’s about the same for teams that win Game 5 with the series tied at 2-2 (46 of 65, also 71%). In series with the current 2-3-2 format, teams taking a 3-2 lead by winning Game 5 on the road — before going home for Games 6-7 — have taken the series 20 of 25 times (80%). However, it’s worth noting that the 2019 Astros are the only team to ever win Games 3, 4 and 5 on the road but still lose the series, doing so in the World Series against the Nationals.