The Astros walked off the Rays in Game 5 of the ALCS with a dramatic ninth-inning home run from Carlos Correa. Tampa Bay brought in Nick Anderson and went with a wild defensive alignment: four outfielders, three infielders. With one out and the game tied, Alex Bregman popped one to shallow right, no damage. Then came Correa, who worked the count before crushing a fastball over the fence. Kevin Kiermaier jumped at the wall, but this one wasn’t coming back. Astros fans exploded, the dugout emptied, and Correa strutted around the bases like he was born for the moment.
The celebration had everything: helmet toss, chest pound, finger to the sky, and a hand-to-the-ear move rounding third. Meanwhile, in the dugout, the coaching staff had a bizarre exchange. One coach pointed emphatically at another, while Dusty Baker played peacemaker. Maybe it was a “told you so” moment, maybe some strange bet, nobody knows, but it added to the chaos.
Say what you want about the Astros, but Dusty Baker remains impossible to dislike. His postgame hugs and calm presence stood out in the madness. And Correa? He knows he’s the villain, and he leans right into it. As long as he delivers moments like this, he won’t care what anyone thinks.