Photo Credit; al.com
What turned out to be a pitcher’s duel watched Verlander go the distance in a courageous effort to put the Astros up, 2-0 in the best of seven series of the ALCS Champion game by defeating the Yankees 2-1 on Saturday evening at NRG Stadium.
Two more wins and the Astros would join the 2005 team as the only two teams to advance to the World Series in Franchise history.
Verlander, 9-3 in post season play since 2011, struck out thirteen, gave up five hits and a run on a ground rule double after the ball was hit up in the fenced area in left-center. The hard fought, complete game performance showed his grit.
In as many as two days, Dallas Keuchel (14-5) and Justin Verlander (15-8) outdueled the Yankee’s in a pitching classic. New York’s top pitcher, Luis Severino (14-6), who suffered an unknown injury, left the game after the fourth inning, faced off against Verlander in game two. He was nothing less than superb. But it was Verlander, who pitched all nine innings with the Astros coming to bat in the bottom half of the ninth inning tied 1-1 and finished with the win. Aroldis Chapman (4-3) took the lost for the Yankees.
Jose Altuve reached first base on a single and scored on Correa’s walk-off double to right-center. Altuve was fortunate to slide and touch home plate while Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez struggled to come up with the ball which one-hopped to home plate. The throw to home plate may have been stronger had it not been for Correa’s hard slide into second base where Didi Gregorius made contact with him, limiting his throwing momentum to home plate.
In game one, Keuchel won a 2-1 decision over Masahiro Tanaka to give Houston a 1-0 lead in game one. He pitched seven innings, giving up four hits, a walk while striking out ten before giving way to relief pitcher Chris Devinski.
There was no reason for Yankees pitching to hang its head. Severino and Tanaka were brilliant on the mound in game one and two but the Astros late game heroics were the difference. Not many teams this season have been able to hold Houston under three runs per game.
The Astros continued its dominance over New York, winning five of seven during the regular season. Back on July on July 2nd, in its last meeting against the Yankees, Devenski beat Severino, 8-1.
Now the series moves to New York for the middle games, three, four and five before heading back to Houston. New York will send CC Sabathia to the mound in game three while Houston counters with Charlie Morton.
