ALCS Game 6: Houston Astros and Texas Rangers go to a winner-take-all Game 7 to decide AL pennant

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston Astros entered Game 6 of the American League Championship Series with momentum from the three victories they stole in Arlington and the hope of clinching a trip to the World Series at home.

Instead, the Astros and their AL West rivals, the Texas Rangers, will duel in a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday.

Here's how Game 6 unfolded:

Astros strike first at home

In the bottom half of the first, Houston chalked up a run, something that has been a rarity for the team while playing at home in the playoffs.

Jose Altuve plated the first score after singling, stealing second, and being sent home on a Yordan Alvarez RBI hit. Houston led 1-0.

Bryan Abreu, whose two-game suspension on Saturday provided a good share of the drama late in the series, officially appealed the ban and is available out of the bullpen in Game 6.

Rangers answer quickly

True to their fighting spirit throughout the ALCS, the Rangers immediately dinged up Framber Valdez.

Mitch Garver swung at the first pitch he saw to start the second inning and sent Valdez's sinker out of the yard. Just like that, the game was tied 1-1.

Rangers take two-run lead on Heim's blast

After a scoreless third inning for both sides, the Texas Rangers attacked Valdez again in the bottom of the fourth inning, when, with a runner on and two outs, Jonah Heim launched a 336-foot homer to right field.

Heim's round-tripper landed in the front row, just out of the grasp of outfielder Kyle Tucker's glove.

Texas earns the lead, 3-1.

Valdez exited the game after the fifth inning, allowing five hits, two walks, and three earned runs. He struck out six batters.

Astros cut into deficit

Up until the sixth inning, Alvin native Nathan Eovaldi's only blemish to his Game 6 start was a first-inning RBI by Yordan Alvarez.

Down two runs, Alvarez again got on base in the sixth inning, along with Jose Abreu, who singled in the following at-bat. Kyle Tucker hit into a fielder's choice to advance Alvarez, who then scored thanks to a Mauricio Dubon sacrifice fly.

Houston came within a run of Texas, 3-2. At that point, Eovaldi, who was able to limit the damage to just the one score, was questionable to return in the next inning, with Josh Sborz warming in the bullpen.

Eovaldi, though, returned for the seventh inning, when, after registering the first out, Jose Altuve collected his second hit of the game. Texas manager Bruce Bochy called for the bullpen afterward.

Sborz quickly snuffed out the threat by inducing a double play to Michael Brantley.

Bryan Abreu enters in relief, allows a run

All eyes were on Bryan Abreu's status heading into Game 6 after his suspension and subsequent appeal.

Manager Dusty Baker called on Abreu in the eighth inning, where Texas' Evan Carter stretched out a single and then stole second base.

Abreu then faced Adolis Garcia, whom he plunked in Game 5. Garcia struck out.

Abreu wouldn't get out of the inning unscathed when he allowed a Mitch Garver RBI double to score Carter.

Texas got back the two-run lead, 4-2. Abreu induced a Heim flyout and a Nathaniel Lowe strikeout.

Astros threatening with bases loaded

What could have been Houston's best chance to take the lead after the sixth inning came in the eighth, when Alex Bregman walked, Jose Abreu singled, and Kyle Tucker also took four balls, all with an out.

Jose LeClerc, who gave up the go-ahead home run in Game 5, entered after Tucker's walk and induced Dubon to lineout.

Then, Jon Singleton pinch-hit for Jeremy Pena. Singleton took LeClerc to a full count before striking out swinging.

Threat ended.

Houston's ninth-inning relievers unravel

Rafael Montero got the ball to start the ninth inning and right away allowed traffic on the bases.

Josh Jung drew a walk, Leody Taveras reached safely on a Jose Altuve error, and Marcus Semien hit a single.

Ryne Stanek entered with no outs and hit Corey Seager to extend Texas' lead, 5-2.

Two batters later, Adolis Garcia made contact on a 97 mph four-seam fastball up and in the middle for a grand slam.

Texas' lead explodes to 9-2, which became the final after Rangers reliever Andrew Heaney retired the Astros' three outs in order.

2023 ALCS schedule and results: Series tied 3-3

• Game 1: Rangers 2, Astros 0
• Game 2: Rangers 5, Astros 4
• Game 3: Astros 8, Rangers 4
• Game 4: Astros 10, Rangers 3
• Game 5: Astros 5, Rangers 4
• Game 6: Rangers 9, Astros 2
• Game 7: Rangers at Astros, Monday, 7:03 p.m.

All times are Central Time.

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