Yankees fans had been booing and jeering José Altuve perpetually for three days during the Astros' visit to the Bronx, but the All-Star infielder had the perfect response on his 31st birthday Thursday - a go-ahead, three-run homer off Chad Green in the eighth inning to spark a 7-4 victory. The win meant the Astros would avoid a three-game sweep.
Altuve had been 1 for 11 with no RBIs in the series, and this was just his second homer this season. It was also the first time Altuve homered on his birthday.
Astros manager Dusty Baker, who hugged Altuve in the dugout, said, “It quieted the fans for a little while, anyway." The near-sellout crowd had been chanting, “(Expletive) your birthday."
Altuve was low-key postgame, saying “You don’t like to get booed by anybody, but that’s part of the game. I was just going out there trying to do my best to help my team win.”