HOUSTON — The Houston Astros hit three solo home runs Wednesday in their Game 1 win over the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
One of those home runs -- the one off the bat of Astros' outfielder Chas McCormick -- had Twitter buzzing. That's because the national TV cameras captured fans and even a couple Astros players, including Justin Verlander and Yuli Gurriel, doing the 'Chas chomp' as McCormick rounded the bases.
While most on social media were celebrating the home run and catchy gesture, others were wondering just where and how the 'Chas chomp' started.
First, a look at McCormick's home run...and the 'Chas chomp.' His explanation is below that.
Origin of the chomp
After the game, McCormick addressed the celebration, saying it began sometime last season with a fan in the crowd. The true origin is a mystery to him, too.
"It pumps me up," McCormick said.
However it started, it's become a thing; a thing Astros fans want to see again after the ALCS, just like they did after the Astros eliminated Seattle.
During a long game when superfan Scott Agruso and his team needed a spark, they would start the chant.
Agruso is the man in the crowd who dons an alligator suit and sometimes sits behind home plate or in right field.
“I am the creator of the ‘Chas chant’,” Agruso said. "I just started saying 'Chas, Chas, Chas!' I noticed, like, other fans kind of joined in."
Agruso said it might be superstition, but it definitely seems to be having an effect.
When McCormick steps to the plate, a crescendo is there to greet him, which he said catches his attention.
Agruso's stats say the chant in the stands that became a chomp is helping Chas and the Astros win on the diamond.
"He's been wildly successful whenever we whenever we've done it, so we kept it going," Agruso said. “We also have heard through the grapevine and through interviews that Chas has done that Chas likes it too.”
Game 2 of the American League Championship Series is on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park. The Astros will send Framber Valdez to the hill, opposite Luis Severino for New York.