Jose Altuve doubled to center field in the third inning Wednesday night and joined one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs, even as the Houston Astros let an early lead slip away in an 11-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 36-year-old second baseman ripped a first-pitch sinker from Cristopher Sanchez just beyond the reach of center fielder Justin Crawford for career hit No. 2,500. It was Altuve’s only hit of the night. He finished 1-for-4 and scored a run.
Houston had jumped ahead 3-0 before the Phillies stormed back. The Astros had split the first two games of the series. Wednesday’s defeat dropped them to 1-2 in the set.
Altuve has spent all 16 of his major league seasons with Houston. He became just the second player in franchise history to reach 2,500 hits, joining Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who finished with 3,060.
He is also only the second active major leaguer at the mark. Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is the other. Altuve is one of five primary second basemen in league history to get there.
The Astros marked the moment on social media with a simple line: “2500 for the GOAT.”
Every Houston player and coach climbed to the top step of the dugout and applauded. Phillies infielders Trea Turner and Luis Arraez, both former batting champions, offered congratulations on the field.
After the game, Altuve tried to balance the personal milestone with the team result.
“It means a lot, obviously. It’s a big number. 2,500 is a lot of hits and you think about all the hits and all the years playing here with this amazing organization… it’s a great moment,” Altuve said. “It’s really sad we lost the game… but this is a big hit for me.”
Astros manager Joe Espada said the night fit a career that has already stretched far beyond most players’ expectations.
“It’s incredible what he’s accomplished in his career, and obviously, he’s not done,” Espada said. “Twenty-five hundred hits — it’s hard just to get one. It’s hard just to get to the big leagues. And this guy’s been doing it for a very long time.”
Altuve entered Wednesday one hit shy of the milestone after a three-hit game Sunday against Arizona. He went hitless in Tuesday’s series opener.
His career line now sits at a .300 batting average with 270 home runs, 933 RBIs and 329 stolen bases. He is a nine-time All-Star, a seven-time Silver Slugger, a three-time batting champion, the 2017 American League MVP and a two-time World Series champion. He also won a Gold Glove in 2015 and was ALCS MVP in 2019.
Altuve signed with Houston as a teenager out of Venezuela for a reported $15,000 after some evaluators initially passed on the 5-foot-6 infielder. He debuted in 2011 and has never worn another big league uniform.
He reached 2,500 hits in his 2,095th regular-season game. Biggio needed 2,281 games to get there.
Altuve said he is not looking past the next at-bat.
“Let’s get one hit at a time,” he said. “I just got this one, and I’m happy about the one that I got tonight. We’ll see what happens in the future.”
Houston remains in the thick of the American League West race. The club still has work left in September, and Altuve is expected to stay in the middle of the lineup as the Astros try to return to October.
For one night in Philadelphia, the scoreboard was secondary. A player who has defined an era in Houston added another number that few second basemen, and even fewer active players, ever reach.
