Astros' Baker hopes Altuve 'isn't getting the yips' after 2-error game

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had an uncharacteristically rough day on the defensive side of the ball in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.

The usually reliable infielder committed a pair of errors in the 4-2 loss, prompting manager Dusty Baker to express concern for the former Gold Glove winner.

"You just hope he isn't getting the yips because invariably they come in bunches," Baker said, according to Greg Beacham of The Associated Press. "Everything comes in bunches. I just told him to flush it. This guy has been awesome for us. You've got to flush it and move on, or else it multiplies. I'm sure he'll do that."

Altuve's first error was the more costly of the two, as his poor throw to first baseman Yuli Gurriel failed to record the final out of the first inning. Rays outfielder Manuel Margot subsequently hit a three-run home run, putting Tampa Bay ahead for the duration of the game.

The second error came in the third inning and was almost identical.

Altuve had not committed an error in either the 2020 regular season or postseason prior to Monday's contest.

Starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said one bad game doesn't diminish Altuve's importance to the team.

"He's been the heartbeat of this team, the staple of this organization for so many years," McCullers said. "I really wanted to pick him up there. I wish we were talking about something different. He's a hell of a player, and he understands how much we support him. He just needs to come back tomorrow like he always has."

After dropping the first two games of the series, the Astros will turn to Jose Urquidy in Game 3 against Rays southpaw Ryan Yarbrough on Tuesday.