Alvarez and Altuve power Astros to 6-4 victory over Twins in ALDS opener
Justin Verlander pitched six shutout innings, Yordan Alvarez homered twice and the Astros won their 10th straight game 1 of a Division Series beating the Minnesota Twins 6-4 in their AL Division Series opener.
Jose Altuve hit a leadoff home run and Alvarez had three RBI as the defending World Series champions won their 2023 playoff debut. Saturday was Altuve’s eighth home run in the first inning of a playoff game, the most in MLB history. Altuve, who was 0 for 23 to open the playoffs last season, has 24 career postseason homers.
Verlander signed with the Mets in the offseason, then returned to Houston in a July trade after spending just a few months with the Mets.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a year, season for me,” Verlander said. “To find myself back here in Houston and pitching in the playoffs is not something I foresaw, but happy to be here, happy to help contribute, and happy to be in the playoffs.”
Since 2018, Verlander is 6-1 in seven starts versus Minnesota and has a 23-inning scoreless streak.
The Twins had chances early in the game but couldn’t score any runs against Verlander.
“He’s a Hall of Fame pitcher for a reason,” Correa said. “Even though he doesn’t have his good stuff, he knows how to get people out. He got out of some key spots in the first three innings and they came out with the win because he figured it out and then he cruised through the last two or three.”
The best-of-five Divison Series continues Sunday night in Houston, with Framber Valdezon the mound for the AL West champion Astros against Pablo López.
