‘Goldilocks’-‘little giants’ come from behind with three-run third…Houston holds off Texas to stay one win away from WS
The Houston Astros came from behind with a home run in the top of the ninth inning to take the series lead.
Houston rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series of the 2023 Major League Baseball postseason at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, U.S., on Sunday.
Houston led 1-0 through four innings. Starter Justin Verlander pitched well. Texas starter Jordan Montgomery pitched well, but a solo home run by Alex Bregman in the top of the first inning and a strong outing by Verlander put Houston ahead.
The game was tied in the bottom of the fifth. Texas tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Nathaniel Lowe took a 95.4-mile-per-hour four-seam fastball from Verlander over the left field fence for a solo shot.
After tying the game in the top of the sixth, Montgomery walked Bregman and gave up a single to right field to Jordan Alvarez to put runners on first and third. He then gave up an RBI single to Jose Abreu.
But Texas turned the game around in the bottom of the sixth. They shut down Verlander. One out later, Corey Seager doubled to right field. Evan Carter followed with a single to left, putting runners on first and third.
With the tying run at the plate, Adolis Garcia took a 95-mile-per-hour four-seam fastball from Verlander for a three-run home run over the left field fence.
Verlander was then removed from the game after getting Rody Taveras to ground out to shortstop and allowing a single to Josh Young to left.
Texas answered back with home runs in the fourth and sixth innings against Verlander. Texas took a two-run lead into the ninth inning. 먹튀검증토토사이트 But in the top of the ninth, Yoenis Diaz singled, John Singleton drew a walk, and the “Little Giant” Jose Altuve hit a three-run home run over the left field fence.
The game also featured a bench-clearing. After Garcia’s homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, Houston’s Brian Abreu threw a 98.9 mph fastball at Garcia in the bottom of the eighth that struck him in the right forearm.
Garcia lunged at Houston catcher Maldonado, and players from both teams spilled onto the field. The umpires eventually ejected Abreu. Houston manager Dustin Baker was ejected for protesting. Garcia was also sent off.
Texas took the series with a 2-0 win in Game 1 on April 16 and a 5-4 win in Game 2 on April 17. But Houston pulled away with an 8-5 win in Game 3 on the 19th and a 10-3 win in Game 4 on the 20th.
The Astros, who are trying to win their second straight World Series title, clinched Game 5 and are one win away from advancing to this year’s World Series.