Ailing Yordan Alvarez plays, hits homer in ALCS Game 2

HOUSTON --Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, reportedly dealing with a virus that led to an upset stomach and headaches, started Monday's Game 2 of the ALCS and put Houston on the board with a solo home run in the second inning.

He tacked on another home run in the bottom of the eighth but Houston still fell just short, losing 5-4.

Responding to questions based on reports from The Athletic that Alvarez is dealing with an illness, Astros manager Dusty Baker was aggressively guarded in his responses pregame.

"His name is Yordan," Baker said when asked why Alvarez was in the lineup. "That's No. 1. And plus, No. 2, the reports about him having a virus, I got a virus, everybody got a virus. So he's fine. He's better today than he was yesterday."

Alvarez struggled in the opening game of the series, a 2-0 Rangers win. He went 0-for-4 and struck out three times against Texas lefty Jordan Montgomery. As well as Montgomery pitched, Alvarez might have been facing him at less than full strength.

"I mean, what is sick?" Baker said. "No, I'm serious. I'm not being a smarty."

Baker was then asked about Alvarez's specific symptoms.

"He's fine," Baker said. "He's better today than he was yesterday. And like I was telling somebody yesterday, as a responsible man, a family man, you go to work, you know? And I never saw my dad in the bed, ever, sick, and I'm sure he was sick. And sometimes as a man you just go to work."

Alvarez made an immediate impact on Monday, hitting a 420-foot home run off Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi that cut Texas' lead to 4-1 after the second inning. He finished 2-for-3 with two homers and a walk.

Alvarez hit .293 this season with 31 homers and 97 RBIs, continuing his run as one of MLB's premier hitters. He hit .438 during Houston's ALDS win over the Twins, homering four times in four games.