Astros beat Rays 7-4 to force Game 7 in ALCS
Houston chased starter Blake Snell in the fifth before Springer hit a go-ahead, two-run single and scored on Altuveโs double. The Red Sox stunned the New York Yankees to win the ALCS before winning their first World Series in 86 seasons. Game 7 on Saturday night will feature the pitchers who started and finished Houstonโs Game 7 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series. Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will go for the Astros while 36-year-old Charlie Morton is expected to start for the Rays. As a player, he helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series in 1981 against the New York Yankees.
Springer, Altuve homer to keep Astros alive in ALCS
Beating the Tampa Bay Rays three more times to reach the World Series won't be easy, but the Astros believe they can do it. With Altuve atoning for his poor defense in this series, the Astros finally got their offense going after being pushed to the brink of a sweep. The Rays remain one win from advancing to the World Series for the second time in franchise history. Altuve hit a homer in the first and an RBI double in the third for a 2-0 lead. It was the third home run of the postseason for Springer, the MVP of the 2017 World Series.
Rays beat Astros 5-2, move within 1 victory of World Series
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)SAN DIEGO โ Kevin Kiermaier and the Tampa Bay Rays โ with big assists from two former Padres who know Petco Park's outfield well โ are one win from the second World Series berth in franchise history. โWeโve played just tremendous defense all season long,โ Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. Kiermaier, the longest-tenured Tampa Bay player, said it was โan amazing feelingโ to be so close to going to the Fall Classic. Wendle lined a single off third baseman Alex Bregman's glove to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. Paredes hit Kiermaier on the hand to load the bases and then grazed Willy Adames on the pinkie with a pitch to bring in another run.
Astros fall to Rays 5-2 in Game 3 of ALCS, trail series 3-0
Tampa Bay reached the World Series in 2008 but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Astros got into the postseason with a 29-31 record before going 5-1 to reach the ALCS. Losing pitcher Josรฉ Urquidy held Tampa Bay to two singles through five scoreless innings before Randy Arozarena singled leading off the sixth. Wendle lined a single off third baseman Alex Bregmanโs glove to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. Paredes hit Kiermaier on the hand to load the bases and then grazed Willy Adames on the pinkie with another pitch to bring in another run.
Altuve's throwing yips hurt Astros again in Game 3 of ALCS
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO โ Josรฉ Altuve was the AL MVP in 2017 when his Houston Astros sometimes knew exactly what pitches were coming. The normally reliable second baseman has an undeniable case of the yips, and it has bitten the Astros badly. Altuve also made two throwing errors in Game 2 of the ALCS, contributing significantly to the Astros' 4-2 loss. โAltuve is a great player, man,โ said shortstop Carlos Correa, Altuve's counterpart in the Astros' double-play combo since 2015. After the second error, Correa took Altuve's normal spot in the Astros' shift, and he retained the spot in Game 3.
Astros' big bats go silent in ALCS opener loss to Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay limited the Astros' star-studded lineup to nine hits โ but just one for extra bases โ in the Rays' 2-1 victory to open the ALCS at Petco Park on Sunday night. The Astros got no more big hits against Blake Snell and the Rays' justifiably vaunted bullpen. But with big scoring opportunities in the final two innings of the ALCS opener, the Astros couldnโt capitalize โ and the last two hurt the most. Yuli Gurriel grounded into a first-pitch double play with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning against Diego Castillo. The Astros scored first in all four games against Oakland in the ALDS, and they did it again in Game 1 of the ALCS.
Arozarena homers again, Rays beat Astros 2-1 in ALCS opener
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)SAN DIEGO โ Randy Arozarena homered again at Petco Park and Mike Zunino drove in the go-ahead run for the Tampa Bay Rays, who beat the Houston Astros 2-1 Sunday night in the opener of the AL Championship Series. Game 2 is Monday afternoon when the Rays turn to 36-year-old Charlie Morton, who was with Houston when it won the 2017 World Series. They are villains in many peopleโs eyes for their sign-stealing scandal three years ago, when they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Tampa Bay is trying to reach its second World Series after losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. Rays: Morton got the decision in the Raysโ 8-4 win against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Astros players comment on sign stealing scandal during Astros FanFest
HOUSTON โ Astros players broke their silence for the first time since the MLB released a report detailing the Astros sign stealing scheme. Astros third baseman Alex Bregman spoke with media Saturday during the Astros FanFest at Minute Maid Park. Bregman responded, โThe commissioner made his report, and the Astros made their decision,โ or some form of that answer to any question regarding sign stealing. Alex Bregman on sign-stealing saga: โThe Commissioner came out with a report, MLB did their report and the Astros did what they did. Astros second baseman Josรฉ Altuve was questioned by the media about being called a cheater.