*Photo from Click2Houston*
Houston wins series 3-1
The Houston Astros needed to make another statement to their re-emergence this season. After losing game 3, they wanted to come right back out and start throwing haymakers. Jose Altuve homered, Michael Brantley drove in two runs, and the Astros routed the Chicago White Sox 10-1 on Tuesday afternoon.
With the win, the Astros have eliminated the White Sox from contention, and have punched a ticket to the ALCS for themselves, beginning on Friday and Saturday with games one and two at home in Houston. They'll play the Boston Red Sox, as a rematch of the 2018 ALCS, as well as the 2017 ALDS.
The Astros have also secured their 5th straight appearance in the ALCS with the win as well, dating back to 2017. In 2017, they defeated the New York Yankees, followed by a defeat to the Red Sox a year later, followed by another win over the Yankees in 2019, and last year, when they lost in 7 games to the Tampa Bay Rays. If the every other year magic keeps going, it looks like Houston will reach the world series.
Astros star SS Carlos Correa said "Five years in a row never gets old. Just enjoying every second of it. It’s pretty special that we got here, and a pretty special organization. I’m very fond of every single guy in this clubhouse. We know what it takes to win, we know how to prepare to win the moment we show up to Spring Training. To see the fruits of the labor right there is always great."
Gavin Sheets got the White Sox out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, off a solo home run to center field. In the 3rd, Houston took a 2-1 lead on a two run double from Correa. In the 4th, an RBI single from Martin Maldonado and a two run double from Alex Bregman made it 5-1 in favor of the Astros, giving them a pretty convincing early lead.
In the 6th inning, Brantley drove in his first run of the game with an RBI single to center field, making it a 6-1 lead for the Astros. In the 8th, Brantley did the same thing, scoring Altuve to make it 7-1 in favor the Astros. In the 9th, Altuve belted a 3 run home run to left field, making it a 10-1 lead and breaking the game wide open late.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said of the series win that "Boy, this was a heck of a series. It was a downer night before last when we got beat pretty badly, but on a daily basis, they don't take one day into the next unless it was good. You know, I love this team, and the city loves them, and that's what counts."
Yimi Garcia got the win for the Astros, improving to 1-1 this postseason with a scoreless inning of relief in the 5th. Lance McCullers Jr lasted just 4 innings in his start, allowing one run on 5 hits and 3 walks, fanning 5 hitters in the process. Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Kendall Graveman, and Ryan Pressly all pitched in relief.
Carlos Rodon got the start and the loss for the White Sox, lasting just 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on 3 hits and two walks in his only start of the postseason. Michael Kopech, Ryan Tepera, Craig Kimbrel, and Liam Hendriks all gave up runs in their relief appearances, with Garrett Crochet and Aaron Bummer getting scoreless appearances.
Sheets said of the season ending loss that "It's a learning experience for all of us, but we got a big taste of what it's like to play at home in the playoffs, and I don't think anybody is going to forget today and Sunday night, you know, just what it was like; the crowd, the black-out, the support. That burns a fire, and that makes you want to do it again and with a different outcome."
The Astros start the ALCS at home on Friday, with Framber Valdez likely being the game one starter. The White Sox head home for the winter as they get ready to report to Spring Training in Arizona in mid February.
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