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Timing to the rescue. After clinging to a 3-1 lead, the Astros watched Tampa Bay connect on two home runs to draw even at three. After clinging to a 3-1 lead, the Astros watched Tampa Bay connect on two home runs to pull even at three.
Still, Houston used the bottom of the ninth inning to dispatch the Rays, 4-3 following Carlos Correa’s walk-off home run over the centerfield wall in game five of the American League Championship Series Thursday evening at Petco Park.
Battling elimination for the last two games, Correa crushed a ball over the 396 feet sign on the centerfield wall to extend the series to game six.
Tampa Bay’s lead has shrunk 3-2 in the series.
In an interview following the game, Correa mentioned, I don’t want to go home yet.
Entering the bottom of the ninth, Altuve flew out to leftfield before Correa’s heroics.
Luis Garcia got the start for Houston. However, four rookie pitchers followed, assisting with the win. Garcia pitched two innings before Blake Taylor entered.
Though the Rays outhit the Astros, 7-6, manager Dusty Baker’s plan worked, using seven pitchers, five different rookie pitchers throughout the game.
Trailing 1-0, Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena hit homers in the third and fifth innings respectfully, to tie the game at three. Lowe took Blake Taylor’s 1/1 pitch deep over the right-centerfield wall. Arozarena, eying the 0-1 pitch, connected on his sixth deep ball, tying him with Evan Longoria, who accomplished it in 2008 for most home runs in a single postseason by a rookie.
Arozarena also has 20 postseason hits for a rookie, which places him third behind Derek Jeter’s (22) and Yuli Gurriel’s (21).
Ji-Man Choi led off the top of the eighth with a long ball to right field, providing the Rays with its last run and tying the game at 3-3.
After Choi’s home run, Margot singled up the middle. Yet, Josh James turned a double play before leaving the game with a sore back when third baseman Joey Wendle grounded to the mound. James threw to second for the force out, and the relay to first cleaned off the bases immediately. Closer Ryan Pressly fanned shortstop Willy Adames to end the inning.
After, Nick Anderson came on in the bottom of the eighth and retired the side in order, including Springer, Brantley, and Altuve.
Again, the Rays got a man in scoring position after catcher Mike Zunino stroked a single to left field. Kevin Kiermaier entered the game to run for Zunino. Then Pressly struck out Lowe and watched Kiermaier take second base on his wild pitch. However, Pressly recorded the final two outs when Arozarena and Austin Meadows flew out.
Much like game four, Houston took the lead when center fielder George Springer tattooed John Curtiss’ first pitch to left field. The Astros led 1-0 but not for long.
Meanwhile, Brantley added a two-RBI single, increasing the Astros lead, 3-1.
Game six kicks off on October 16, 2020 at 5:07 P.M. central time.
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