Houston Manager A. J. Hinch did not know late Monday evening if center fielder Carlos Gomez could play at all for the Astros in their first playoff game since 2005.
The rib muscle strain that had restricted Gomez for most of September was threatening to linger into the postseason.
But by Tuesday afternoon, Hinch could sense Gomez’s restlessness and gambled, knowing that even at less than 100 percent, the incandescent Gomez could still contribute in a win-or-go-home setting.
The decision paid off handsomely when Gomez homered on the first pitch from Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka in the fourth inning, giving Houston a two-run lead in the American League wild-card game at Yankee Stadium.