Altuve 4th in MLB history with 3 HRs in first 3 innings as Astros destroy Rangers

Jose Altuve is on an absurd tear.

The Houston Astros second baseman went deep three times in the first three innings of Tuesday's 14-1 win over the division-rival Texas Rangers.

The 33-year-old is the fourth player in MLB history to accomplish the feat, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

The blowout victory put Houston alone atop the AL West for the first time this season, one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners and two ahead of the Rangers.

Altuve hit his third homer of the game off right-hander Dane Dunning. The long ball was his fifth in the first two contests of the series:

Altuve hit his second homer while facing Nathan Eovaldi in the second inning:

The eight-time All-Star also belted a round-tripper off Eovaldi in the first via a leadoff blast:

"I don't recall," Astros manager Dusty Baker said when asked if he'd ever seen three homers from a player in the first three innings, according to Schuyler Dixon of The Associated Press. "Probably not. Barry Bonds, maybe."

Martín Maldonado also collected two homers, and Yordan Alvarez had one. The Astros' six long balls are the most by one team at Globe Life Field.