After the top of the second, it looked like the Houston Astros were headed towards a do-or-die game five after going up 2-0 in the American League Division Series. However, a pair of home runs shifted things right back into the Astros favor and they never let go of it as they punched their ticket to the ALCS for the fourth straight season with an 11-6 win over the Oakland A’s.
How It Happened
Ramon Laureano came up big in the top of the second with a three-run bomb out to left center field to give the Oakland A’s a 3-0 lead. They were able to hold onto the lead until the bottom of the fourth with Michael Brantley hitting a two-run shot to right center field followed by a three-run bomb to left field to take a 5-3 lead.
Laureano hit his second home run on the afternoon to left center field in the top of the fifth to get within one run, but the Astros put a little distance between themselves and Oakland with another home run from Michael Brantley and then later in the inning, Carlos Correa pushed Alex Bregman across home plate with an RBI single.
It was all Houston from that point forward with Kyle Tucker hitting a line-drive single to center field in the sixth, scoring Jose Altuve. Later in the inning, Correa kept the mojo going with an RBI single to left field. The final shot to the A’s chances at a rally came from Jose Altuve, who lifted a two-run shot out to center field, making it an 11-4 lead.
Player of the Game: Carlos Correa
There may be a new Mr. October and his name is Carlos Correa. The former number-one pick went three-for-four at the plate with five RBIs, three of those off of a momentum-changing home run. He’s been the MVP so far in the postseason for this team and as they get ready for the ALCS, keeping his performance up at Petco Park will be crucial.
Next Up: ALCS Game 1 Sunday; Playing Winner of Rays-Yankees Series