Jose Altuve, in 100th playoff game, sparks Astros in Game 4 of ALCS - ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jose Altuve became the seventh player in baseball history to play in 100 career postseason games on Thursday night, a product of additional rounds but also, mostly, an indication of the Houston Astros' prolonged success.

His biggest lesson from that time?

«That in the playoffs, a lot of things can happen,» Altuve said.

The volatility is especially true now. The Astros dropped both games at home to begin this year's American League Championship Series, spoiling a multitude of opportunities to drive in runs and making it seem as if they were no match for the scorching-hot Texas Rangers. They had reached this round for the seventh consecutive time and won it all only a year earlier, but suddenly it felt as if the Astros had run out of gas.

Then they went on the road and scored a combined 18 runs in 18 innings, tying the ALCS at two games apiece and placing the home-field advantage back in their favor.

Their latest victory, a 10-3 drubbing in Game 4 from Globe Life Park, saw Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and Jose Abreu combine to drive in eight runs from the middle of the lineup. But it also saw Altuve set the tone with three hits from the very top, the type of spark he has provided over nearly an entire season's worth of games in October.

«It's been an honor to be his teammate — a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person, incredible leader every single day,» said Bregman, Altuve's teammate over the past seven years. «From Day 1 of spring training, he shows up, works his tail off. He always has a smile on his face. He's so nice to everyone that he comes into contact with — players, coaches, staff, people at the stadium, fans. He's an unbelievable human being, and to be able to be his teammate, it's