The Houston Astros were down as many as four runs against the Seattle Mariners in Tuesday’s Game 1 of the ALDS.
As the game reached the late innings, the Astros’ offensive firepower made a statement.
First, Alex Bregman hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Yordan Alvarez saved the best for last.
Against reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, he found two men on base and belted a mammoth home run that left the bat at 116 mph and turned a two-run deficit into a one-run victory.
With the huge home run, Alvarez joined an exclusive group.
“Dykstra. Gibson. Carter. Alvarez. Yesterday, Yordan Alvarez became only the FOURTH player in MLB history to hit a postseason walk-off home run with his team trailing,” MLB’s official account tweeted.
Dykstra. Gibson. Carter. Alvarez.
Yesterday, Yordan Alvarez became only the FOURTH player in MLB history to hit a postseason walk-off home run with his team trailing. 😱 pic.twitter.com/WTlcpJaeY4
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2022
The home run was the most impactful play in playoff history.
Per Baseball Reference: “In addition to being the first come-from-behind walk-off home run in @Astros postseason history, Yordan Alvarez’s HR had the most WPA (Win Probability Added) of any play in playoff history, at 91.3 percent.”
In addition to being the first come-from-behind walk-off home run in @Astros postseason history, Yordan Alvarez's HR had the most WPA (Win Probability Added) of any play in playoff history, at 91.3 percent.#Astros | #LevelUppic.twitter.com/XJqnZt8oFf
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 12, 2022
An Impactful Swing
The main takeaway is that Alvarez changed the fate of a playoff game with just one swing.
The Mariners probably pictured themselves celebrating in the dugout after taking a huge away win, but not so fast.
Alvarez made sure home fans went home with a smile on their face.
He is now a member of an exclusive club.
Those players (Lenny Dykstra, Kirk Gibson, and Joe Carter) won a game in which their team was trailing at the moment of hitting their walk-off home run.
Of them, only Carter’s was a World Series-clincher, in 1993.
Does Yordan have something else in store for us?
NEXT: Yordan Alvarez Gave His Family A Special Gift