*Photo from Sports Illustrated*
Tampa Bay leads series 3-1
The Houston Astros weren't ready to go home just yet. Zack Greinke got out of a big jam, George Springer homered, and the Astros topped the Tampa Bay Rays by a 4-3 score to edge out a game 4 win, avoiding a sweep.
The Astros got the scoring started in the first inning, when Jose Altuve hit a solo homer to left field, making it 1-0 Astros early on. In the 3rd, Altuve hit an RBI double to right field, adding to the lead and making it a 2-0 game. In the 4th, Randy Arozarena continued his breakout postseason with a two run homer to left field, tying the game at two. In the 5th, Springer crushed a two run homer to put Houston in front by a 4-2 score. In the 9th, Willy Adames hit an RBI double to make it 4-3, but Houston shut the door from there.
Astros manager Dusty Baker addressed his team's fight to stay alive after the game, saying that "Nobody's ready to go home, I'm not ready to go home. Nobody's ready to go home. We're ready to go to Dallas(for the world series), we're still one step closer to the top of that mountain, but we got a couple steep cliffs the next couple days."
Baker's decision to keep Greinke in when he was in a jam in the 6th inning seemingly defied baseball logic in 2020, but Baker likes managing with his gut, something Greinke has noticed. Greinke said that "I would say he is really, really good at that, he reads people really good, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him make a wrong decision. When he trusts what he sees, he sees the right thing almost 100 percent of the time. Not everyone has that skill. Not many people do, but he’s been impressive in that regard, for sure."
Martin Maldonado, the catcher for the Astros, came to the mound to chat with Greinke when he got into the jam in the 6th. Asked about what he said, Greinke said that "Maldy said that I was looking good and that I could get out of it, like I said, I thought it was nice having some guys have confidence in you. That was good. I knew it was an important time of the game and it was a tough part of their lineup you’re having to face, too. And it worked out. If it didn’t work, things would be different. It worked out and I felt good all the way around."
Tyler Glasnow got the start for the Rays, getting the loss. Glasnow threw 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and two walks, striking out 5 hitters. Jose Alvarado and Aaron Slegers came in for relief appearances, each pitching one inning and not allowing any runs.
The weak link all series, even in the wins for the Rays, has been the offense. Manager Kevin Cash said that "We’ve got to get the bats going, no doubt about it, we've been carried here by our pitching and defense, which that’s how we’re built, but it sure would be nice to find a way to get the bats going and keep the line moving a little bit. Right now, it’s not coming easy for really anybody, with the exception of a couple guys, we've got guys in our lineup that are just scuffling. That was encouraging to see Austin Meadows with the at-bats he had. He had a good day."
Arozarena, who has been on a tear this postseason, wasn't terribly worried about the Rays chances in the rest of the series. Arozarena said that "We still feel good, we’re still really happy, we knew it was going to be a tough series and we’re playing against another really good team, and they’re trying to win just like us. It just didn’t happen today."
The series continues on Thursday, where the Rays look to put away the Astros with John Curtiss serving as an opener. The Astros counter with Luis Garcia.
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