3 long balls + 11 JV strikeouts = 1 big Astros W! LevelUp How did the Crush City do it? Find out here:
More Videos Is it better to be the most rested or the most active when it comes to big-time competitive baseball series like the one the Astros and Yankees are playing? That question may be answered from the jump when Game 1 is played Wednesday night.
One team is rested. The other just took a late-night flight down south after playing nine innings. The latest edition of the Houston Astros and New York Yankees rivalry begins with an "intersection" American League Championship Series Game 1 at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday evening. The 'Stros are playing just their fourth game since their regular season finale on Oct. 5, which included an 18-inning postseason classic in Seattle. It's sort of the opposite for the Bronx Bombers, who went the distance in their American League Division Series with the Cleveland Guardians. Their Game 5 was played a night later than scheduled due to rain, setting up the scenario of having to win the winner-take-all contest and then head to Houston for Game 1 the next night. Nevertheless, Minute Maid Park's roof is closed to contain Houston fans who are without a doubt excited to have their team back. This article holds game highlights as they happen. Come back to this page for updates throughout the series opener.Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander celebrates the third out during the sixth inning in Game 1 of the ALCS on Oct. 19, 2022, in Houston.Houston's starting pitcher Justin Verlander threw a solid 22 pitches to begin Game 1 in the first inning, despite being tested with two Yankees on base. But JV got dinged up in the second inning, hanging a slider to Harrison Bader, who smoked Verlander's pitch to the left field wall just below the train tracks. The homer gave New York the early lead, 1-0. The Astros batters could have given Verlander run support before the Yankee home run. Houston had two baserunners on when Alex Bregman hit a line drive to right field that forced outfielder Aaron Judge to lay out for the catch, saving at least two runs.JV pitched six quality innings, allowing just three hits and one run and striking out 11 Yankees to give him the most postseason strikeouts in MLB history.Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado hits an RBI-double during the second inning in Game 1 of the ALCS on Oct. 19, 2022, in Houston.After Chas McCormick singled up the middle, Houston catcher Martin Maldonado sailed a two-out double to the gap in deep right center to drive in a run.Houston had a chance at taking the lead with bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning. New York's Clarke Schmidt relieved Jameson Taillon after Jeremy Pena doubled down the third base line, his second two-bagger of the night. After the pitching change, Yordan Alvarez was intentionally walked and Alex Bregman was conventionally walked to load the bases. However, Kyle Tucker couldn't convert, instead hitting into a double play via a grounder to second base.Houston Astros Yuli Gurriel celebrates his solo homer during the sixth inning in Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Houston.In the Astros' very next offensive inning, Yuli Gurriel led off the sixth inning with a go-ahead solo blast to the Crawford Boxes. He sent Schmidt's slider 381 feet.Two batters later, Chaz McCormick introduced Schmidt's baseball to right field, with a solo shot.Peña hits homer in 2nd straight playoff game Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena hits a double during the first inning in Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Houston.Let the rookie get some. After Hector Neris retired the Yankees in the top of the seventh inning, Jeremy Peña led off the bottom half with a solo home run towards the train tracks in left.Houston extends the lead, 4-1.The Astros maintained a lead heading into the eighth inning, with Rafael Montero relieving. But a 4-1 game kept the Yankees within screaming distance. With four outs left before an Astros win, Montero allowed New York's Anthony Rizzo to send a homer out to right-center, cutting into the Houston lead, 4-2. Montero would put the next two batters on board before Ryan Pressly got his turn. Lucky for 'Stros fans, Pressly has been rock solid, and he was able to strikeout the next batter to keep the lead at two runs.There wasn't anything too radical for manager Dusty Baker's 26-man roster in the league championship round. All the players from the ALDS roster are included except for one spot: outfielder Jake Meyers was swapped out for righthanded relief pitcher Seth Martinez. It's a clear sign that Baker wants to make his bullpen stronger than it already is. Eight Houston relief pitchers were used in the ALDS against the Mariners. They combined to allow only one run. Meyers became the odd man out. He was among the Houston batters at the bottom of the order who were less-than-stellar.A native of The Woodlands starts Game 1 for New York Yankees pitcher Jameson Taillon returns to his home area and gets the ball for manager Aaron Boone to open the series. Taillon, 30, appeared in just one game this postseason: a three-hit, two-run 10th-inning appearance in a losing effort against Cleveland. Aside from that, Taillon gets the chance to play before family and friends after showing off his baseball talent at The Woodlands High School, where he, as a senior, threw 19 strikeouts during a no-hitter. Taillon's journey to the MLB could have gone a lot later than 2010 when he was drafted second overall. He signed a letter of intent to play for Rice University, which could have postponed his entry into professional baseball. He instead signed with the Pirates, the team that drafted him. Taillon is also a cancer survivor. He had surgery for testicular cancer in 2017. His road to recovery was chronicled inNo. 27 isn't intimidated by a team that wants to win world championship No. 28. Despite going hitless in 16 at-bats in the ALDS, Jose Altuve's history with the "Evil Empire" tips the scales in the 5-foot-6 second baseman's favor. In 14 postseason meetings against the Yanks, Altuve is hitting .327 with four home runs, the latest of which was a walk-off game-winner that sent the Astros to the 2019 World Series.New York maybe the matchup that helps Altuve break his slump.Framber Valdez, who is the only lefthanded pitcher on the Astros' postseason roster thus far, gets the ALCS Game 2 start, Baker confirmed before Game 1.The Astros are missing one key person on the field for Game 1. Third-base coach Gary Pettis won't man his corner of the infield due to illness. Omar Lopez, who usually coaches first base, will fill in.
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