Photo credit Karen Warren/staff Photographer
After 73 pitches, Lance McCullers Jr. departed the game earlier than expected. He suffered tightness in his right forearm. Still, Houston’s manager Dusty Baker kept the rotation flowing in a favorable direction by making the necessary adjustments.
McCullers lasted four innings, but the bullpen backed his efforts with a gym and Carlos Correa lined a two-out, two-run double to left field, pushing Houston ahead 2-1, to erase the Chicago White Sox, 10-1 while advancing to its fifth consecutive ALCS, in-game four of the best of five series in the ADLS on Wednesday evening at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Astros will meet the Boston Red Sox in games one and two on Friday at 7:07 P.M. and Saturday at 3:20 P.M. in the best of seven series of the ALCS at Minute Maid Park.
The victory adds another keystone to the Astros collection, advancing to its fifth straight American League Championship Series. The Astros have accomplished the feat eight times.
Correa’s two-run double scored Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, who drew passes to reach base. The Astros led 2-1 and never looked back.
White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon, who pitched two and 2/3 innings, surrendered three hits, walked two, saw his day end after Correa’s double to left field.
McCullers, who pitched four innings, surrendered a single and two walks before Gavin Sheets bounced a home run off the top of the center-field wall as Chicago led 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning. By the time the Astros ace left the field, he gave up five hits, four strikeouts, and three walks.
Over the next three innings, Astros relievers Yimi Garcia and Phil Maton recorded eight outs while giving up a single before Ryne Stanek, Kendall Graveman, and Pressly shut the door.
In need of an extra-base hit lingered on the minds of White Sox players. Chicago managed three base runners through the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.
No one saw this coming with such a talented bunch of young players. But as one coach mentioned, that’s why the game is played on the field.
Altuve and Brantley led Houston with three hits each which included a 14 hit total team effort.
Kyle Tucker spurred a three-run fourth inning when he singled to left field, stole second and third base, and scored on Martin Maldonado’s single up the middle. Altuve continued the attack with a single to right field, chasing White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech from the game. Bregman doubled to left, scoring Maldonado and Altuve before Garrett Crochet fanned Yordan Alvarez to end the inning. The Astros led, 5-1.
Houston added a run in the sixth and seventh before Altuve cushioned the lead, 10-1 with a three-run home run over the left-field wall.
Yuli Gurriel led off the top of the ninth with a single, but Tucker’s fielder’s choice erased Gurriel. Maldonado struck out after Chas McCormick drew a base on balls, and Altuve laid into a 99 mph fastball over the plate.
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