Astros vs. Twins ALDS 2023: Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez crush HRs in Game 1 win

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Justin Verlander threw six innings of scoreless ball, and Yordan Alvarez smashed two home runs to help the Houston Astros start their World Series repeat bid in winning fashion, 6-4, in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

The Astros led 5-0 after six innings after a leadoff homer by Jose Altuve in the first inning, Alvarez's two-run bomb in the third, and a pair of RBIs in the fifth.

Verlander gave way to Hector Neris in the seventh inning when the Twins got on the board with four runs on back-to-back home run swings. Alvarez then got back a run in the bottom half of the seventh with a home run to the right field foul pole.

Bryan Abreu and Ryan Pressly came in relief in the final two and third innings to extinguish any fire of a Twins comeback.

Carlos Correa, in the losing effort, registered two hits, including a double that saw him slow into second base. The Twins shortstop had been dealing with plantar fasciitis heading into his return to Houston.

Houston has the chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead in Game 2 on Sunday at 7 p.m. Framber Valdez will face Minnesota's pitching ace, Pablo Lopez.

Yes, Correa has come back to Houston since departing for the Minnesota Twins before the 2022 season, and while he's managed to register just two hits in six games as the visitor at Minute Maid Park, the former No. 1 overall draft pick's mission in his old stomping grounds matches that held by his former teammates: win, keep winning, earn a pennant and then a world title.

So, the stakes are high. For Houston, in particular, there's a shot at history. No Major League Baseball team has repeated as World Series champions in 23 years, and manager Dusty Baker and his club figure they could break that drought. After all, when Justin Verlander throws the first pitch at 3:45 p.m. inside Minute Maid Park, it will mark the Astros' seventh consecutive time playing in the postseason and the eighth time in the last nine years.

PREVIOUS STORY: UNDENIABLE! Astros overcome scandal, Phillies for 2nd World Series win

For Minnesota, the Twins are bidding to break the stigma of playoff failure. They've already ended an 18-game playoff losing streak and a nine-series run of failing to advance in the postseason. In addition, manager Rocco Baldelli's bunch wants to prove their entry into the 2023 postseason wasn't be default - they earned a ticket by winning the AL Central Division, statistically the weakest in baseball this season. They are also seeking the fourth world championship in franchise history and their first in 32 years.

SEE ALSO: Battle of former 'Stros ends: Correa and Twins deny Springer and Jays

Verlander took on on Bailey Ober in Saturday's ALDS opener.

Game 2's pitchers have already been revealed, with Houston's Framber Valdez going up against Minnesota's Pablo Lopez on Sunday.

The Twins' Sonny Gray, who pitched Minnesota into the ALDS, will start Game 3 in Minneapolis. Houston's starter for its road game has not yet been announced, though, it's likely Cristian Javier will get the nod.

Entering Saturday, FanGraphs gave Houston a 56.4% edge to Minnesota's 43.6% to win the series, but depending on how Game 1 unfolds, you can expect those odds to widen or narrow.

By the way, the Twins won the 2023 regular-season series against the Astros, 4-2, but those games were in early April and late May, the earlier matchups taking place when the Astros were without Jose Altuve and well before Verlander rejoined the team.

2023 ALDS schedule and results, Houston leads 1-0

• Game 1: Houston 6, Minnesota 4
• Game 2: Minnesota at Houston, Sunday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m.
• Game 3: Houston at Minnesota, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 3 p.m.
• Game 4: Houston at Minnesota, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1:07 p.m.*
• Game 5: Minnesota at Houston, Friday, Oct. 13, 3:07 p.m.*+

All times Central Time.

* - if necessary

+ - If only one ALDS Game 5 remains on Friday, Oct. 13, the game will be at 7:03 p.m.

More Astros stories during 2023 postseason run

Correa back in Houston as opponent, says he's ready for his 'moment'

The roof, the roof, the roof, is it open? Fate of outdoor ALDS decided

The Houston Astros and the Minnesota Twins will be playing under a closed Minute Maid Park roof for the first two ALDS games, the ballpark announced.

Calling all Party Animals! Savannah Bananas coming to Houston

They're not for everybody, but if you like entertainment with your baseball, the Savannah Bananas are your team. They're heading to Sugar Land, and they're a hot ticket!

Astros start playoff run with hopes of ending 23-year MLB drought

The Houston Astros are 11 wins away from continuing a dynasty from last year. They're also that many victories from snapping a two-decade-long drought in baseball.

Houston Astros given slightly better odds to pull out ALDS win over Twins ahead of Game 1

The Houston Astros will send Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez to the mound during the first two games of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins.

Dessert, not drama: Baker making weekly visits to soul food outpost

Beef over banana pudding? That was one thing an Astros beat reporter put out to the world at one point of the season. It turns out, that dessert had Dusty Baker coming back for more.

Astros playoffs: JV wins award, inside odds of Houston winning AL West

The Houston Astros get a well-earned five-day break before their AL Division Series against one of two teams.

Too much partying? New chapter written in Astros-Rangers feud