With one swing late Sunday night, Carlos Correa sent the ALCS back to The Bronx all tied up and stoked memories of the shortstop who was a Yankees killer in this series back in 2017.
The Astros are hopeful it’s only the beginning of Correa’s revival.
“I think it’s a good sign,” manager A.J. Hinch said Monday at Yankee Stadium. “He’s a tremendous player. He kind of makes his presence known in all facets of the game when he’s right. And I think that’s a key part of our team that we need in order for us to be complete.”
The Yankees learned that firsthand two years ago, when Correa was right in the middle of the Astros outlasting them in seven games to move on to the World Series. During that ALCS, Correa recorded a team-high nine hits (in 27 at-bats) while posting a slash line of .333/.357/.556. He also had a walk-off double against Aroldis Chapman in Game 2.
This year, Correa was quiet in the ALDS (3-for-19, one RBI) against the Rays and went 0-for-3 in Game 1 against the Yankees before making a splash with his bat and glove in Game 2 Sunday night. In addition to his first-pitch home run off J.A. Happ that walked off the Astros in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 3-2 win, Correa added an RBI double and a heads-up play in the field, when he scooped up a ball that had deflected off Jose Altuve and fired home to throw out DJ LeMahieu and keep the game tied in the sixth inning.
Correa had a frustrating regular season, playing in only 75 games because of a broken rib that sidelined him two months and a back injury that limited him to just three games after Aug. 19.
But now Correa has a chance to make his mark when it counts the most.
“I think just him being himself and finding a way to contribute is really important for our team,” Hinch said. “We don’t really ask anybody to do anything more. I mean, he’s really good.”



