ALCS Game 5: Altuve strikes again
The defending World Series champions are one win from a third consecutive pennant after Altuve’s three-run homer in the ninth inning of a testy 5-4 victory over their instate division rival Friday gave the Astros a 3-2 lead in the AL Championship Series.
I’ll take you right to the 6th inning. Adolis García, who punctuated a go-ahead homer in the sixth with an empathic bat spike and a slow trot, became irate when Bryan Abreu hit him on the left arm with a 98 mph fastball. García immediately turned around and got in the face of catcher Martín Maldonado — the two also jawed nose-to-nose when García touched home plate after his grand slam in Houston on July 26. Then the umpires did their huddle thing. There were no punches thrown just the usual bench and bullpen clearing action. They ended up tossing Abreu, Garcia and Dusty Baker.
Rangers closer José Leclerc gave up a single to pinch-hitter Yainer Diaz to open the Houston ninth and walked pinch-hitter Jon Singleton at the bottom of the lineup. The 5-foot-6 Altuve, playing in his 101st postseason game for Houston, then pulled an 0-1 changeup over the left-field fence, just beyond the glove of a leaping Evan Carter.
The visiting team has won every game in the first postseason matchup between the Lone Star State rivals after the Astros won three in a row in Arlington. Game 6 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday night in Houston.
Verlander retired 13 of his first 15 batters in his 21st postseason start for Houston until Lowe went the opposite way for a 380-foot homer to left field. The 40-year-old right-hander allowed four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Emotions run high during the postseason and especially between these two teams. During the regular season these two teams had a few shoving matches. I can’t wait for game 6 on Sunday night. All-Star pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Framber Valdez will start Game 6, the same matchup as Game 2 when the Rangers won 5-4. Eovaldi struck out nine and allowed three runs in six innings to win Monday. Valdez had six strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings, but allowed five runs (four earned). Framber Valdez needs to get back to last year’s Framber if they intend to win Sunday night.
