After four-and-a-half innings of scoreless baseball, it felt like Justin Verlander and Tyler Glasnow were poised to have a pitcher’s duel. However, one swing of the bat by Jose Altuve turned the tables and helped give the Astros a 6-2 win in game one of the ALDS.
How It Happened
Altuve’s two-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth gave the Astros life after only getting one hit in the previous four innings. Later in the fifth, an error by Brandon Lowe extended the Astros lead when two runs came across.
Houston increased their lead again in the seventh when star rookie Yordan Alvarez hit an RBI double toward center field. Yuli Gurriel then slammed the door shut later in the inning with a double of his own, scoring Alvarez.
The Rays had some hope in the 8th with a pair of runs off of Ryan Pressley, but a combination of Will Harris and Roberto Osuna stifled any attempt at a rally to start off their postseason run on the right foot.
Big Number: 1
Justin Verlander was doing typical Verlander things, allowing only one hit in seven innings. Nothing short of impressive for the Astros ace.
Player of the Game: Justin Verlander
It has to be him simply because he was able to keep the ball rolling against the Rays after a pitching duel.
Next Up: Saturday vs Tampa Bay; First Pitch at 8:07 pm