Astros' Carlos Correa belts 2-run homer in second game

CHICAGO -- In just the second game of his much-anticipated career, Houston Astros youngster Carlos Correahas already made his opponent squirm.

It figures to happen a whole lot more in the future.

Correa crushed a two-run home run deep into the left-field seats in the ninth inning Tuesday night, but the Chicago White Soxheld on for a 4-2 victory that had been far more secure before his shot.

In his first 18 innings in the major leagues, the 20-year-old Correa has managed to shine in the field at shortstop, hold his own against White Sox ace Chris Sale on Monday, take advantage of his speed and show off some easy power with a 386-foot home run that looked even longer.

"Good luck to everybody," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura, the first major league manager who has had to deal with Correa. "He's very impressive.

"Even watching him on the field, when you see a kid, usually you will see some jitters or something. He's not rushed. Anybody that thinks he's rushed, he's not rushed to be up here. He's a major league player, and he's going to give people fits for a long time."

In his debut Monday, Correa delivered his first career hit, an infield single against Sale that had to be overturned on review. He also delivered his first RBI on the play, the only run the Astros would collect against Sale.

What made his night even more impressive was that he ended up being the only player in the Astros' lineup not to swing and miss at a Sale pitch.

He had two more hits Tuesday, also collecting a sixth-inning single, and would have collected a third hit had it not been for a diving catch by White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham on a line drive in the fourth inning.

The home run, though, was his moment to savor.

"It's always good to get that first one," said Correa, who hammered a changeup from White Sox reliever Zach Duke. "I wish we could have won the game, but we battled back and tried to come back in that game. We gave a lot of effort in that last inning, and it felt great. I just wish we could have won that game."

With plenty of family and friends on hand for the series, most of them wearing orange Astros T-shirts with "Correa" and "1" on the back, the former No. 1 overall draft pick had plenty of people with whom he could share Tuesday's moment.

The home run ball was in his possession after the game, but it wouldn't be for long.

"I traded it for a signed bat so I get to keep that ball and give it to my parents," he said. "That's one I want to keep forever."