Quarterly Report

Houston's 5 most influential sports figures for the first quarter of 2019

Houston's 5 most influential sports figures for the first quarter of 2019
Kelvin Sampson. Jackson Gatlin/SportsMap

Houston has no shortage of big-name superstars and top flight coaches. The Astros alone could make up a top five list. As the first quarter of 2019 winds down, here is who has had the biggest impact so far this season.

No. 5: Deshaun Watson

Bob Levey/Getty Images

The Texans disappointed in their playoff game with the Colts, but Watson did lead them to 11 wins, played a full season and should improve. He will likely get knocked off the list once the Astros are playing again, but for now, here he is.

No. 4: Alex Bregman

No, he hasn't played meaningful minute in 2019. But his new contract puts him in the elite level of Houston athletes. He is now the second highest paid Astro behind Jose Altuve, and tied for the second highest ever. It is a six-year, $100 million extension and keeps him an Astro until he turns 30. Leave it to Bregman to crash the off-season party.

No. 3 Tilman Fertitta

Fertitta CenterTilman Fertitta made the Fertitta Center a reality. Houston Cougars Men's Hoops Facebook

Fertitta is not just the Rockets owner, he is on the board at UH and and helped oversee a resurrection of men's hoops thanks to the opening of the Fertitta Center. Now if he can just get a hockey team...

No. 2 Kelvin Sampson

Kelvin Sampson has the Cougars rolling. Bob Levey/Getty Images

Kelvin Sampson's Cougars won the AAC regular season title, went 31-3 and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. No matter what happens, it has been an amazing season for the Cougars.

No. 1 James Harden

James Harden

James Harden.

A year after winning the MVP, Harden has picked up where he left off. He had an amazing scoring streak and helped carry the team through some midseason struggles. In short, he is still the man until someone knocks him off the perch.

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Jose Altuve led the Astros to a 9-1 win over the Nationals. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.

Jose Altuve tied a career high with four hits, highlighted by a three-run homer, to lead the Houston Astros to a 9-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

 

It was Altuve’s second four-hit game of the season and 41st of his career, which extends a franchise record. He was 4 for 4 and scored three times.

 

Cooper Hummel hit a two-run homer and Yainer Díaz added a three-run shot to help the AL West leaders win a second straight after they snapped a season-long five-game skid with a 7-4 win Tuesday night.

 

Houston starter rookie Ryan Gusto (7-4) yielded four hits and a run in six innings to bounce back after giving up a season-high eight runs in a loss to the Athletics on Friday night.

There were two on with two outs in the second when Altuve smacked a changeup from MacKenzie Gore (4-11) into the Crawford Boxes to put the Astros on top 4-1.

Mauricio Dubón singled with one out in the sixth and Hummel made it 6-1 and chased Gore with his third homer of the season.

Washington interim manager Miguel Cairo was ejected following Hummel’s home run after having words with home plate umpire Ryan Additon.

Zack Short walked after that and Altuve collected his third single before Diaz pushed the lead to 9-1 with his home run to left-center.

Gore allowed eight hits and six runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The Astros have combined for 16 runs in the last two games to get their offense going after managing just eight total runs during their five-game skid.

Key moment

Altuve’s home run that gave Houston the lead.

Key stat

Altuve’s home run was the 727th extra-base hit of his career, moving him into a tie with Lance Berkman for third-most in franchise history. They trail Hall of Famers Craig Biggio (1,014) and Jeff Bagwell (969).

Up next

Both teams are off Thursday before Washington hosts Milwaukee on Friday night and Houston opens a series at Boston.

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