Houston clinched a 4-1 triumph over Texas on Saturday, but the victory turned sour when second baseman Jose Altuve exited in the ninth late with left‑side soreness. An awkward swing in the eighth left him clutching his torso before trudging to the dugout, where manager Joe Espada and a trainer met him. Nick Allen stepped in at second for the final frame.

Altuve’s exit pushes an Astros roster already thin—14 players sit on the injured list—into deeper trouble. He had begun the game with his fourth early solo homer, giving Houston an early boost. The 19‑28 club now hopes the MRI clears him, because his loss trims bench depth and narrows any margin for error.

Doctors scheduled an MRI Sunday to gauge the injury. First baseman Christian Walker expressed frustration, noting Altuve’s disciplined regimen and the randomness of such setbacks. Without their All‑Star second baseman, Houston’s lineup loses a .245 hitter and a defender, forcing the club to lean on depth as the season progresses. If the scan reveals anything beyond soreness, Houston may need to consider a roster move.