Jeremy Peña, World Series Most Valuable Player
Jeremy Peña, World Series Most Valuable Player
The Providence Journal
BOSTON — Jeremy Peña was in the middle of a decisive rally on Friday night.
The former Classical High star was back on a much bigger stage a few miles up the road. This three-game weekend series between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox could have long-term implications for the American League playoffs, and the visitors struck first with a late comeback.
More: This Classical High School graduate is in top form at just the right time with the Houston Astros
Peña hit one of his three singles in the seventh inning and Houston recovered from a two-run deficit in style. The Astros pulled away to win 8-4 against a Red Sox pitching team that remains under pressure.
“That’s when we’re at our best,” Peña said. “We get runners on the field and we get them in – and then we pass the baton to the next guy. That’s what we did tonight.”
Houston was trailing 3-1 when Jake Meyers hit a leadoff triple into the right-center triangle and Jose Altuve hit a two-run home run to deep left field. Tanner Houck’s solid start for Boston went up in smoke and Lucas Sims sparked what became a bullpen meltdown. Five consecutive singles by Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Yainer Diaz, Jon Singleton and Peña — the last two to center field and each good for an RBI — turned the tide for good.
“We’re just fighting through the at-bats,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “We’ve had some ups and downs. This group is fighting.”
The Astros entered the game one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the loss standings and tied for the top spot in the AL West. Houston recovered from a slow 12-24 start that put the club in an unfamiliar spot on May 8 – 8½ games off the division lead. The Astros won nine of their next 11 games after a 9-4 loss to New York at Yankee Stadium and finally clawed their way back to .500 thanks to a seven-game winning streak in June.
“I feel like we’ve had a lot of ups and downs as a team this year,” Peña said. “But our confidence has never waned. We believe in each other.”
“We compete against each other every day. We know we have the team to make that happen.”
Peña watched some film and took some extra swings infield before taking batting practice on the field Friday. This was his first three-hit game since July 23, and two of them came off his bat at more than 100 mph. The infield roller over the pitcher’s mound in the fourth inning may have been just what Peña needed to break the ice.
“It’s a game of adaptation,” Peña said. “You have to be present every day and try to master your craft.”
Peña had his breakout season in 2022, winning a Gold Glove as a shortstop and being named Most Valuable Player in both the AL Championship Series and World Series. He was just four years removed from being drafted in the third round out of Maine, and his last season with the Purple was seven years ago. Peña took over a key position for veteran star Carlos Correa and has been paired with Altuve in Houston’s center field ever since.
“When Jose hits a home run, it’s like the team battery,” Peña said. “When he starts a game with a home run, it’s like, ‘Okay, that’s it.'”
One of the tickets Peña left on Friday was for his mother, Cecilia, who was waiting for him after he spoke to the media after the game. She could be in for a strong weekend for her son if history is any indicator. Peña has hit 9-for-25 with three RBIs and two walks in six regular-season games here.
“He loves it here,” Espada said. “He has seen some big changes here in this stadium.”
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