Jose Altuve sends Houston Astros to World Series
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- And just like that, the Houston Astros have advanced to the World Series for the second time in three years thanks to Jose Altuve's walk-off HR in the bottom of the ninth to give the 'Stros a 6-4 victory.
Altuve was named the ALCS MVP after his historic walk-off HR. "I can't wait for the World Series," Altuve said post-game when receiving the award.
Watch Astros fans celebrate after big win
Brad Peacock was the starting pitcher in a bullpen day, and it was a quick one-two-three inning that only took seven pitches. It was one strikeout and two routine ground balls for the Astros infield.
Jose Altuve reached second base on a line drive that went to the centerfield wall. After Michael Brantley popped out to center, Alex Bregman had a free trip to first base that sent Yuli Gurriel to the plate with two runners on base.
Gurriel blasted the ball to the Crawford boxes in the bottom of the first to give the Astros an early 3-0 lead. This was desperately needed as Gurriel was in a slump at the plate.
The Yankees made their presence felt early as well after scoring on a RBI single from Gary Sanchez with two outs. Didi Gregorius started the momentum with a double to deep right field.
Peacock was pulled with two outs in the second after giving Gio Urshela a free trip to first base. Josh James replaced Peacock and struck out Brett Gardner to get out of the jam.
James walked Judge in the third, and Gleyber Torres got a single on a blooper to left center field. Aaron Hicks flew out to right field and James proceeded to walk Edwin Encarnacion, loading the bases as Ryan Pressly was called in to replace James.
Pressly escaped the bases loaded jam by tagging Gregorius out, but had a noticeable limp heading to the dugout. It was announced that Pressly would be day-to-day with knee soreness.
A lead-off walk to George Springer began the bottom of the third, but three straight outs from Altuve, Brantley and Bregman left Springer on second, leaving yet another stranded runner in scoring position.
Urshela hit a home run to right field that cut the Astros' lead to 3-2. On the very next at-bat, Brett Gardner also sent one to right field that barely was a foul ball. Fans inside Minute Maid Park held their breath.
Gardner then got a single to left field and the tying run was on base. Jose Urquidy escaped trouble by striking out Judge, and Urquidy showed some emotion after the big strikeout.
Yordan Alvarez struck out to end the fourth, continuing his disastrous drought during the postseason. Up to that point, Alvarez only had one hit in the ALCS.
To begin the bottom of the fifth, Martin Maldonado beat out a bunt for a single just by a hair. A.J. Hinch challenged the original call of Maldonado being called out. Springer grounded into a double play to conclude the fifth.
After Urquidy walked Sanchez, Urshela came to the plate. He had hit a home run off Urquidy in the fourth that cut the Astros' lead to two. Urshela would get on base for the third time Saturday with a single, putting two on base with only one out.
Gardner blasted a line drive to right field, but Josh Reddick had a highlight diving catch to save what could've resulted in runs for the Yankees. Reddick's teammates saluted his play from the dugout.
Will Harris entered the game in place of Urquidy after the diving catch from Reddick. It only took Harris one pitch to escape the sixth inning, leaving the Yankees 1-6 with runners in scoring position at that point.
Altuve was walked by Tommy Kahnle to begin the bottom of the sixth, and a ground ball to right field gave Brantley a single while moving Altuve to third with zero outs.
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Bregman got his first RBI of the ALCS on an RBI single that sent Altuve home. The ground ball got Brantley out, but Bregman beat out the throw to first base and halted a double play.
Gurriel grounded out to Kahnle, but it sent Bregman to second with two outs and Correa at the plate. Correa struck out but it was on a wild pitch, giving him the opportunity to run to first base and be called safe. It moved Brantley to third.
Correa stole second during Alvarez's at-bat, but Alvarez's slump continued as he struck out yet again to send the game to the seventh.
Brantley might've had the play of the year in the seventh inning. He dove out to catch a blooper from Hicks in left field, immediately got up and threw an absolute laser to get Judge out at first. Minute Maid Park erupted after the highlight play from the All-Star.
Joe Smith took the mound for the Astros in the eighth, starting with a strikeout to Encarnacion. Gregorius then hit a line drive single to left field, putting the tying run for the Yankees on base. Sanchez hit in a double play and ended momentum, though.
Brantley was walked with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and Jake Marisnick entered as a pinch-runner. Gurriel singled on a liner to right field to send Marisnick to third. Correa was then walked, and Aledmys Diaz entered as a pinch-hitter in replacement of Alvarez.
After a heartbreaking HR was surrendered to the Yankees in the ninth, Altuve came up in the clutch with a walk-off HR to centerfield and sent all of Houston into a frenzy.
