INSIDER
Alvarez has 3 HRs, Astros down A's to clinch playoff berth
Read full article: Alvarez has 3 HRs, Astros down A's to clinch playoff berthYordan Alvarez homered in his first three at-bats, Justin Verlander threw five hitless innings in his return from the injured list and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth with a 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics.
Rays clinch top seed in AL playoffs, stall Astros in West
Read full article: Rays clinch top seed in AL playoffs, stall Astros in WestDrew Rasmussen and three relievers combined for a three-hitter, Brandon Lowe and Ji-Man Choi both homered and the Tampa Bay Rays coasted past the Houston Astros 7-0, giving them the No. 1 seed in the American League playoffs.
Astros lose combo no-hit try in 8th; Rangers' skid hits 11
Read full article: Astros lose combo no-hit try in 8th; Rangers' skid hits 11Framber Valdez and the Houston bullpen took a no-hit try into the eighth inning and Astros beat Texas 4-1, sending the Rangers to their season-worst 11th straight loss.
Correa hits walkoff homer to keep Astros alive in ALCS
Read full article: Correa hits walkoff homer to keep Astros alive in ALCSThe Astros defeated the Rays 4-3 and the Rays lead the series 3-2 games. The Astros forced Game 6 on Friday, a rematch of the first game started by left-handers Blake Snell of Tampa Bay and Valdéz. Otherwise, big league clubs leading 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series are 37-1. Correa also hit a walkoff homer in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS off Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees. Houston became the first team with a leadoff and walk-off home run in a postseason game.
Pinder's HR helps rally A's past Astros 9-7, trail ALDS 2-1
Read full article: Pinder's HR helps rally A's past Astros 9-7, trail ALDS 2-1Oakland Athletics' Chad Pinder, right, celebrates with manager Bob Melvin after the Athletics defeated the Houston Astros in Game 3 of a baseball American League Division Series in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. And just in case Laureano's words did not get the message across, he ripped a double as the A's got a pair of sacrifice flies in the eighth to rally past the Houston Astros 9-7 on Wednesday and avoid elimination in their AL Division Series. “It was awesome.”Houston leads the best-of-five series 2-1 and can advance to its fourth straight AL Championship Series with a victory in Game 4 on Thursday. Pinder hit a first-pitch slider to the opposite field for Oakland's fifth homer, a drive chased by right fielder Kyle Tucker until he ran out of room at the short wall. Houston took a 7-4 lead with five runs in the fifth, when the Astros sent 10 batters to the plate.
Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to Rangers
Read full article: Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to RangersThe Astros (29-29) just had to wait a couple of extra hours to wrap up second place in the AL West, which became official with the Angels' 9-5 loss. Now Houston can start planning for a wild-card matchup that could be against Oakland, which ended a three-year run atop the AL West for the defending AL champion. Nick Solak matched Bregman’s sacrifice fly to get the last-place Rangers even in the bottom of the 10th. STANDOUT TEXAS ROOKIERookie catcher Sam Huff homered twice, his second and third, for the first two Rangers runs. UP NEXTThe Astros were waiting for the LA outcome to decide who would start the third game in the four-game series to finish the regular season.
Astros rally to beat Dodgers 7-5 despite angry LA fans
Read full article: Astros rally to beat Dodgers 7-5 despite angry LA fansHouston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) and center fielder George Springer (4) celebrate the team's 7-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Los Angeles. But there were multiple reminders that Dodger fans haven’t forgotten the Astros’ cheating scandal from their 2017 championship. Kelly's curled lip has been immortalized in a spray-painted wall mural by an artist in Los Angeles. Taylor blasted a two-run shot into the right-field pavilion with two outs in the second, giving Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. Dodgers: RHP Dustin May, who took a line drive off his left foot in Arizona, had a CT scan that revealed a contusion but no fracture.
Bregmans 11th-inning RBI sends Astros past Angels, 6-5
Read full article: Bregmans 11th-inning RBI sends Astros past Angels, 6-5That first inning was outstanding, said Angels manager Joe Maddon, who apparently wasn't aware Ohtani was headed for an MRI during his postgame interview. After a strong eight-pitch first inning, Ohtani walked his first three batters of the second. But the Astros' injury-plagued pitching staff came up big for the rest of the day. UP NEXTAstros: Baker hasn't said who will start Tuesday night when the Astros open a three-game series at Arizona. Angels: Maddon hasn't said who will take the mound Tuesday night in Seattle to open a six-game road trip.