Astros 7, Rays 4
History was made in Game Six of the American League Championship Series. With the Houston Astros 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, they became the second team in MLB history to force a Game Seven when down 3-0 in the series. The first team was the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who won the series and eventually the World Series. A four-run fifth inning led the Astros past the Rays and to this bit of history.
Rays Take Early Lead Over Astros
For just the second time in this series, the Rays got the first run on the board. This run came from an RBI double off the bat of Willy Adames. Both teams were otherwise kept off the board until the fifth inning, where the Astros would explode. Back to back baserunners reached off Blake Snell, which chased him from the game and brought in Diego Castillo. The first batter he faced was Martin Maldonado, who dropped down a successful sacrifice bunt. George Springer followed the bunt with a two-run single. Following the single, Jose Altuve smacked a ringing double to score Springer. After a Michael Brantley walk, Carlos Correa followed with another run-scoring single to bring the score to 4-1.
Houston was not done scoring in the game, however. In the sixth inning, Kyle Tucker hit a solo home run, his first of the postseason. The first home run of the game brought the score to 5-1. The Astros scored two more runs in the seventh, one on a Brantley single and one on a Tucker sac fly.
The Rays did attempt a valiant comeback, thanks to the efforts of Manuel Margot. Margot hit a solo home run in the seventh to inch one run closer. The very next inning, Margot hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot that pushed the score to 7-4. Tampa got a runner on in the ninth, but it was wiped away on a game-ending double play.
Valdez Continues His Incredible Postseason
Houston starter, Framber Valdez pitched another great start. The 26-year-old went six innings, giving up just a single run and striking out nine Rays hitters. After Friday’s start, he has completed 24 innings this postseason and given up just five runs. Even after a heated exchange with Yandy Diaz, Valdez was able to stay focused and force a double play which ended the sixth inning, and his great start.
On To Game Seven
This is a situation the Rays did not think they would have to face, but here it is. Charlie Morton (1-0 1.80) will be the starter for Tampa. He went five scoreless innings in Game Two. For the Astros, the man will be Lance McCullers Jr. (0-0 9.00) McCullers went seven innings in Game Two, and gave up four runs, although only one was earned. This game could be all hands on deck though, with Jose Urquidy likely available for the Astros, and Tyler Glasnow and Ryan Yarbrough possibly available for the Rays.
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