Home Run: 3. Small Ball: 2.
The Houston Astros scored in just one swing, but that was enough to beat the New York Yankees 2-0 in Thursday’s 3-2 win in the American League Championship Series.
With no hits in their previous 19 at-bats and runners in scoring position, the Astros made up the lost time when Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer to give Houston a 3–0 lead. In 5.1 innings, he allowed only 5 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, and 3 runs.
The Yankees were top of the fourth inning thanks to two errors on the same double play ball by Flamber Valdez, but quickly put the first two batters in scoring position. Anthony Rizzo’s ground ball gave the Yankees the lead, and Gleyber Torres’ infield hit cut the deficit. That was all the damage they could do against Valdez, who struggled early on, as the Yankees made it look like they had never seen a curveball. He stole his 9 and allowed only his 4 hits without walking a batter.
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The Yankees hit 62 home run hitter Aaron Judge as a lead run with one out in the top of the eighth inning, but he flew right at the top of the wall. Harrison Bader tagged in to move to second, but Giancarlo Stanton ended the threat with a strikeout.
In the top of the ninth, the lead run was at the plate again, this time with pinch hitter Matt Carpenter with two outs – he went 0-for-6 with six strikeouts going into the night in the postseason. He’s currently 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts because he punched out the side for the win.
Yankees’ 17 strikeouts contribute to ALCS Game 1 wild record
Winning with a home run is becoming all too common. Since 2016, his 171-32 team has beaten their opponents in postseason games.
The Yankees are currently 1-8 in Houston in the postseason since 2017. The Astros have kept them out of contention in each of their last three postseason matchups dating back to 2015.
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The Astros have yet to announce a starter, but Gerrit Cole will be ahead of the Yanks in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.