Astros’ Yordan Alvarez exits pivotal game with left ankle sprain

HOUSTON — In the first inning of a season-defining homestand, the injury-ravaged Astros may have absorbed an absolute worst-case scenario.

Left fielder Yordan Alvarez, one of Houston’s hottest hitters, sprained his left ankle after touching home plate to score the Astros’ second run of the game.

Alvarez walked in his first plate appearance and tried to score from first base on a throwing error from Texas Rangers starter Jack Leiter. Alvarez ran through a stop sign from third-base coach Tony Perezchica and did not slide into home plate.

After touching the plate, Alvarez appeared in immediate discomfort near the first-base dugout. On-deck hitter Christian Walker and manager Joe Espada grabbed Alvarez to stop his momentum before assistant athletic trainer Eric Velazquez hurried to the scene.

Alvarez made it down the dugout stairs with a significant limp and ample help from Velazquez.

He did not appear to play defense in the second inning. Rookie Zach Cole replaced him in the Astros’ lineup.

Losing Alvarez for any length of time would stagger an already inconsistent Astros lineup. Houston entered play on Monday averaging the seventh-fewest runs in baseball, a byproduct of injuries throughout the season that have, at points, rendered their lineup unrecognizable.

Alvarez had one of the worst, missing 100 games from May until mid-August with a fractured right hand. He returned on Aug. 26 and had slashed .369/.455/.569 across his first 77 plate appearances back.

The Astros entered play on Monday trailing the Seattle Mariners by a game in the American League West and with only a two-game cushion over the Rangers for the third AL Wild Card spot.

Houston will face both teams during this six-game homestand, one it may have to navigate without its most feared hitter.

(Photo: Erik Williams / Imagn Images)