Astros take on 3-0 lead in the ALCS after beating New York Yankees 5-0 in Game 3

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Astros are almost there! The hometown team got the victory on Saturday, beating the New York Yankees, 5-0 to take a 3-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.

The 106-win Astros, trying for their second straight AL pennant, improved to 6-0 this postseason. On the verge of reaching the World Series for the fourth time in six years, manager Dusty Baker's team aims to close out the series on Sunday night when Lance McCullers Jr. starts against Nestor Cortes.

Only happening one time in major league history has a team overcame a 3-0 deficit in a seven game series. Boston rallied against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.

Christian Javier, who's had 10 days' rest since a 21-pitch relief outing against Seattle in the Division Series opener, pitched for the Astros. He stayed sharp and only allowed one hit, in five 1/3 innings striking out five to get the win.

Chas McCormick hit a two run home run in the second inning off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole to put the Astros up 2-0.

Jose Altuve hit an opposite field double to the right in the fifth inning for his first hit after being 0-for-25 in the postseason.

Christian Vazquez was a star behind and at the plate adding a two-run single in the sixth inning.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Game 5 will see Cortes starting on short rest and Lance McCullers will take the mound in his first appearance since Oct. 15 after a champagne bottle bruised his elbow.

Of course, Astros fans at home and in New York are ready for the game.

ABC13's Jeff Ehling grabbed a rally towel and visited Times Square to speak with Astros and Yankees fans ahead of Game 3.

"I'm excited! We're up 2-0. I'm hoping we can come home Monday morning with two victories and go on to the World Series again. I'm really looking forward to it," one Astros fan said.

Since not everyone could make it to New York, an official watch party is happening at Minute Maid Park at 501 Crawford Street on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, the party begins at 4 PM CDT and first pitch begins at 6:07 PM CDT.

Vouchers to get in are just $1 and all proceeds benefit the Astros foundation. You can purchase them online here.

The Astros have started 5-0 in the postseason for the first time in franchise history. The team's five-game win streak matches the franchise record in the postseason - accomplished one other time: Game 7 of the 2017 World Series through Game 1 of the 2018 ALCS.

Former Astros standout Gerrit Cole, who helped lead Houston to the 2019 World Series, will pitch Game 3 for the Yankees as he tries to save New York's season.

The Astros won the first two games of this best-of-seven series at Minute Maid Park.

According to Elias, teams who take a 2-0 lead in any best-of-seven playoff series, as the Astros have in this series, have gone on to win 74 of those 88 series (84.1%).

See live updates, highlights, and takeaways for Game 3 here.

2022 AL Championship Series schedule

• Game 3: at New York Yankees, Saturday, 4:07 p.m.
• Game 4: at New York Yankees, Sunday, Oct. 23, 6:07 p.m.
• Game 5*: at New York Yankees, Monday, Oct. 24, 3:07 p.m. or 4:07 p.m.
• Game 6*: at Houston, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 5:07 p.m. or 6:37 p.m.
• Game 7*: at Houston, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 6:37 p.m.

All times listed are CDT. Games 5-7 are if necessary*.

If the NL Championship Series is over after Oct. 23, then ALCS Game 5 will move to 4:07 PM CDT. If the NLCS is over after Oct. 24, then ALCS Game 6 will move to 6:37 PM CDT.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.