Altuve poised to win second batting title

ANAHEIM — There was much drama in the American League batting race two years ago, when Jose Altuve entered the final day with a slim lead over the Tigers’ Victor Martinez and was originally going to be held out of the lineup for the Astros’ regular-season finale at Citi Field against the Mets.

Then-interim manager Tom Lawless called Altuve into his office just prior to the start of the game, because the team decided Altuve should play. He went 2-for-4 in an 8-3 loss, but he finished with a .341 batting average to win the team’s first batting title, and he set a club record with 225 hits.

Altuve enters Sunday’s season finale in Anaheim against the Angels as a lock to win his second batting title in three seasons. He’s hitting .338, which leads Red Sox teammates Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia, both of whom are an insurmountable 18 points behind at .320. Altuve also leads the Major Leagues with 215 hits, one ahead of Betts.

“I don’t know if I’m going to win it,” …

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