The American League Championship Series is now a best-of-three.
After dropping the first two games of the ALCS to the Texas Rangers, the Houston Astros have come all the way back, equaling the series at two games apiece following a 10-3 win in Game 4. Here are three takeaways from the Astros’ huge postseason road victory.
Another Rangers starter rocked early: For the second game in a row, a Rangers starter gave up a crooked number early to the Astros’ intimidating lineup. This time, Andrew Heaney was the victim, lasting only seven batters before getting the hook. The left-hander allowed three earned runs off four hits in only 2/3 of an inning, leaving after recording just one out. In Houston’s 8-5 win in Game 3, the Astros got to Max Scherzer, putting up three runs in the second inning before chasing him from the contest in the fifth after he’d allowed five earned off five hits. Game 5’s expected starter, Jordan Montgomery, will look to stop the bleeding and notch a repeat of his Game 1 performance (6.1 innings, 5 H, 0 ER), facing off against Justin Verlander for the Astros.
Jose Altuve breaks out of his slump: It’s safe to say Jose Altuve has shaken off his early ALCS struggles. After finishing 2-for-5 with a home run in his team’s Game 3 win on Wednesday, Altuve responded with another strong effort in Game 4. Finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles and a walk, Altuve set the table at the top of the lineup, scoring three of Houston’s 10 runs. Heading into Thursday’s contest, Altuve wasn’t swinging the hottest bat, going 2-for-13 at the plate against the Rangers. He appears to have put the slump behind him, which could be good news for the Astros as they look to take a 3-2 series lead on Friday in Game 5.
Jose Abreu and Yordan Alvarez continue to deliver in the postseason: Signed as a free agent in the offseason, the Astros brought Abreu aboard to be a clutch power hitter in the middle of the order, mainly in October. He did just that in Game 4, breaking a close 4-3 ballgame open with a deep three-run shot to left-center field with two outs in the fourth inning to give the Astros a four-run cushion. Finishing 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, Abreu’s long ball was his only hit of the night, but it was a game-changer. In only his first playoff run with Houston, Abreu is already making a significant impact, smashing four homers and logging 11 RBI in eight postseason games.
