Watch: Altuve error initiates another Astros meltdown vs. Rays
The Houston Astros seemed to be cruising toward their first win of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday until they suddenly weren't. That all started with a Jose Altuve throwing error in the sixth inning.
The normally sure-handed second baseman committed his third throwing error of the series on a seemingly tailor-made double-play ball.
The misplay seemed to be contagious, as it initiated a miserable sequence of events for Houston.
Following a Yandy Diaz single to load the bases, Joey Wendle cashed in the tying and go-ahead run with a single down the left-field line.
Things continued to get worse for the Astros, as reliever Enoli Paredes - who had yet to allow a run this postseason after four appearances - hit back-to-back batters to reload the bases and allow a run to score.
After left-hander Brooks Raley took the mound, Hunter Renfroe - pinch-hitting for catcher Michael Perez - piled on with a bloop down the right-field line to score two more runs, making it 5-1.
Incidentally, Renfroe wound up staying in the game for Kevin Kiermaier, who suffered a hand contusion after being one of the hitters hit by a pitch in the inning.
Altuve's costly error followed a pair of blunders the former Gold Glove winner committed during Monday's Game 2 defeat. One error came in the first inning on what would've been the final out of the frame, leading to Manuel Margot's three-run home run.
Despite the defensive gaffes, Astros manager Dusty Baker won't relegate Altuve to DH duties going forward. He's sticking with his star at the keystone in Game 4 of the ALCS.
"Oh for sure," Baker said, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "That's without a doubt. That doesn't help us and it would certainly kill him."