Astros’ Jose Altuve Reaches 200 Hits; 4th Venezuelan to Reach Feat in a Season

By Francisco Romero.-

Jose Altuve: Picture Courtesy of mlb.com

Houston Astros’ second baseman joins an elite group of major league baseball players.  With 2 hits Wednesday night against the Mariners, Altuve reached 200 hits for the season, a milestone reached only once before by an Astros Player. 

Craig Biggio has the franchise record with 210 hits, reached in 1998.

“I would like to thank God for allowing me to reach this milestone, it is a great feeling, specially because we are playing so good and we are winning. Getting hit number 200 and winning the game at the same time is priceless,” said Altuve after the game.

The Astros beat the Mariners 5-2.

“I have to admit I was trying to get two hits before one,” he added.

The second baseman started the game with 198 hits.  Hit 199 came in the fifth inning, it was an RBI Double; his 200^th hit came in the seventh inning (single).

With 200 hits, Altuve joins César Tovar (204), Magglio Ordóñez (216) and Miguel Cabrera (205) as the only Venezuelan players to reach 200 hits or more in one season.

Currently Altuve is leading the league in batting average (.336) and steals (52).

With the win the Astros took two out of three games from the Mariners who are fighting to make the playoffs.

Rookie pitcher Nick Tropeano (1-0), making his major league debut, got the win against the Mariners. 

Hisashi Iwakuma took the loss (14-7) allowing 4 runs on 6 hits in four innings.

The next milestone for Altuve will be breaking Craig Biggio’s record of 210 hits in a season. 

Altuve also became the fourth player in the last 10 years to reach 200 hits and 50 stolen bases joining Juan Pierre 204 hits and 58 stolen bases (2006), Hanley Ramírez 212 hits and 51 stolen bases (2007), José Reyes 204 hits and 56 stolen bases (2008) and José Altuve (2014).