The Houston Astros are just one win away from advancing to the American League Championship Series.
Houston won 9-1 against the Minnesota Twins in Game 3 of the American League Division Series held at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on the 11th (Korean time).
Houston, who won 6-4 in the first game and lost 2-6 in the second game, took the advantage by making it 2 wins and 1 loss with this victory. If they win Game 4 on the 12th, they will advance to the American League Championship Series. If Houston advances to the League Championship Series, it will be the seventh consecutive advance since winning the World Series in 2017.
Houston’s batting lineup pounded the Minnesota mound with 14 hits and 4 home runs. Jose Abreu led the victory with 2 hits in 5 at-bats, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. Jordan Alvarez hit his fourth home run in this series and went 3-for-5 with 1 home run, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored, while Alex Bregman also showed off his good batting skills by going 2-for-5 with 1 home run, 2 RBI, and 1 run.
Starting pitcher Christian Javier became the winning pitcher after pitching 5 innings with 1 hit, 5 walks, 1 out, 9 strikeouts, and no runs. The bullpen team consisting of Hunter Brown (1 run, 1 inning) – Brian Abreu (1 inning, no runs) – Phil Mayton (1 inning, no runs) – Rafael Montero (1 inning, no runs) preserved the victory.스포츠토토
Minnesota’s starting pitcher Sonny Gray became the losing pitcher after giving up 8 hits (2 home runs), 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, and 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings. The batting line only recorded 3 hits.
Houston pushed Minnesota hard from the start of the game. In the top of the first inning, leadoff hitter Jose Altuve hit a single, and Jordan Alvarez survived a catching error by first baseman, creating a chance for second and third bases with one out. Kyle Tucker scored the first run with an RBI single, and Jose Abreu hit a three-run home run to take the lead 4-0.
Minnesota also had a chance in the bottom of the first inning with one out and runners on second and third base thanks to a walk by Jorge Polanco and a double by Max Kepler. However, Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa both struck out.
Houston created a chance with one out and two on base in the top of the second inning thanks to Jeremy Peña’s single and Martin Maldonado’s sacrifice bunt. But Altuve struck out and Alex Bregman hit a grounder to third base. In the third inning, leadoff hitter Alvarez hit a double, but the central batting lineup of Tucker, Abreu, and Yainer Diaz failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
In the bottom of the third inning, Minnesota’s leadoff hitter Ryan Jeffers got on base with a pitch and Eduardo Julien walked. However, in the first and second base chances with no outs, the central batting line consisting of Polanco, Kepler, and Royce Lewis was silent.
Houston scored one more run in the top of the 5th inning when Bregman hit a solo home run. Alvarez’s double and Tucker’s walk followed, but did not lead to an extra point.
Minnesota had a chance to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a walk by Willi Castro, a walk by Julien, and a walk by Polanco. However, both Kepler and Lewis struck out.
Houston had a chance to get to first and third base with no outs in the top of the sixth inning thanks to Peña’s walk and Maldonado’s hit. Altuve retired with a straight hit to shortstop, but Bregman hit a timely hit with an RBI to make it 6-0.
Minnesota had a chance in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and runners on first and second base thanks to Correa’s single and Matt Wallner’s walk. Castro scored Minnesota’s first score of the day with a timely hit and 1 RBI. However, with one out and runners on first and second base, Jeffers hit a double play and no additional points were scored.
Houston put a wedge in the game when Alvarez hit a solo home run in the top of the 9th inning, and after Turner’s walk, Abreu hit a two-run home run.