Triple Crown still within reach for Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez after big game in Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez gained some ground Tuesday night in his chase for a Triple Crown.

He still has plenty of work to do this week.

The AL MVP front-runner went 2 for 4 with his 41st home run and three RBIs in the Astros' 7-0 win over the Seattle Mariners. Alvarez hit an RBI single in the first inning, was intentionally walked in the second and then belted a 386-foot homer in the eighth with a 109.5 mph exit velocity.

“At this point, I keep wondering why guys are pitching to him,” Houston first baseman Christian Walker said. “He just seems to come through in every moment. He's dangerous at the plate right now.”

Alvarez, who is quiet and shows little emotion, orchestrated a team meeting after the Astros (78-79) were swept by Atlanta on Sunday, squandering their lead in the AL West. His performance on Tuesday was much-needed to put Houston in a tie with the Texas Rangers atop the division with five games left this season.

“He's been backing it up all year,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.

Alvarez's two-run shot to right field tied him with Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League lead with 41 homers. Alvarez is first in batting average at .314 — five points ahead of Tampa Bay's Chandler Simpson — and he has 102 RBIs, six behind Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso for most in the AL.

Alonso drove in three runs with two homers Monday against Toronto, but the teams were rained out Tuesday in Baltimore because of bad weather. They are scheduled to play a split doubleheader Wednesday.

Alvarez has six homers since Aug. 1, and the 29-year-old designated hitter has eight RBIs over 17 games in September. He'll need more to become baseball’s first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.

Alvarez leads the AL in slugging percentage (.601), OPS (1.032), total bases (329) and walks (106). Logan Gilbert intentionally walked Alvarez in the second inning Tuesday, which was the 33rd time for Alvarez this season, already a franchise record.

It’s been a historic season for the four-time All-Star after he was limited to 48 games in 2025 because of a broken hand and an ankle injury.

If he wins the AL MVP award, the Cuban slugger will join Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the only players to win an MVP award while primarily serving as a designated hitter. Othani was close to winning a Triple Crown in 2024 after leading the NL in homers (50) and RBIs (130), but his .310 average fell just short to Luis Arráez’s .314.

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Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez celebrates after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez watches his home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts after hitting a RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) hits an RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Isack Hadjar is staying with Red Bull as Max Verstappen's teammate for 2027 after the team extended his contract.

The confirmation Wednesday comes as Hadjar prepares to return to action at this week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing three Formula 1 rounds with a wrist injury.

“The period since his injury has been a difficult one for Isack, but this extension is a testament to how much we believe in him and we can’t wait to see him back out on track,” Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said.

The French driver is eighth in the standings despite his absence. He's been consistent, placing in the top six in each of his last seven races, but has rarely been able to challenge four-time champion Verstappen's pace.

Mekies said Hadjar had been “superb on and off track” since moving up from Red Bull's sister team Racing Bulls after a strong rookie season in 2025, “which made extending his contract an easy decision”.

That means Verstappen will have the same teammate for a second season, the first time that's happened since Sergio Perez was dropped at the end of 2024. Red Bull dropped Liam Lawson after two races in 2025 and Yuki Tsunoda replaced him but was dropped at the end of the year.

“From the moment I signed, I set out to dedicate myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in (Red Bull headquarters at) Milton Keynes, I’ve been able to justify the faith they’ve had in me,” Hadjar said.

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FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar of France walks in the drivers area ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, on July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, File)