ARLINGTON, Texas -- Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has reached 200 hits for the fourth season in a row.
With his single in the first inning of Wednesday's game at Texas, Altuve became only the fourth right-handed hitter in major league history with four consecutive 200-hit seasons.
"We're starting to think it's routine, and it's not,'' manager A.J. Hinch said after the Astros' 12-2 victory. "We've said over and over again how special he is, how important he is on our team. It's fun to be a part of it.''
The last right-handed hitter with at least four consecutive 200-hit seasons was Michael Young, with five in a row for Texas from 2003-07. The others to do it were Kirby Puckett for Minnesota from 1986-89 and Al Simmons from 1929-32 (Philadelphia Athletics) and 1933 (Chicago White Sox).
If Altuve finishes the season as the AL hits leader, he will be the first player ever to lead the AL or NL in hits outright in four consecutive seasons.