The Astros Three walled houses run away Yankees Bulban and Justin Verlander Cy Young form clicked as Houston took Game 1 of the ALCS 4-2.
After exchanging early runs, the teams entered the bottom of the sixth. Yankees manager Aaron Boone had already walked the fifth-string reliever. Clark Schmidt Boone got a double play to escape the jam after leaving the opener Jameson Taylor The third time the Astros should start facing the lineup. It proved too much, allowing Schmidt to return to sixth place. Yuli Kuriel And Chas McCormick Each belted solo homers to build an Astros lead.
The new Astros shortstop Jeremy Rock — The hero of Houston’s 18-inning win Marines In the ALDS — added another run with a sky-high homer in the seventh Frankie Montas – Yankees trade deadline addition added to ALCS roster and used out of bullpen.
A Anthony Rizzo The homer threatened to spark a Yankees comeback in the eighth, but Houston manager Dusty Baker called the closer. Ryan PresleyYar broke up the rally and saved four outs.
The Astros — through self-inflicted turmoil following a sign-stealing scandal — have reached the ALCS for the sixth straight season. For the third time in that streak, they are tied with the Yankees. The first two times, Houston won — much to the chagrin of Yankees fans. The pitching depth of an injury-depleted Yankees staff appears to be dwarfed, and in large part they look to rebound.
Houston didn’t need much depth in Game 1. Verlander, A 39-year-old ace who could win the AL Cy Young, brushed off a rough start against Seattle with six innings of one-run ball. He struck out 11 and allowed just three hits, setting a new MLB record with his eighth career double-digit strikeout game in the postseason. After allowing a run early on, you can almost watch Verlander find his groove in real time. His curveball in particular looked sharp as the game progressed.
In all, the Yankees struck out 17 times, while Astros batters scored just twice. Sarah Longs of MLB.com reported it was the largest margin in postseason history.
The Astros will again have the pitching edge on paper in Game 2. Yankees starter Luis Severino With a 3.19 ERA in 19, mostly healthy and back to strong results in 2022. But on the opposite side, Framber Valdez Has grown into one of the most reliable arms in baseball – posting a 2.82 ERA in 200 innings.
That game is set for Thursday at 7:37 p.m. on TBS.
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