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Watch: Altuve error initiates another Astros meltdown vs. Rays

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

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."

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