Houston Astros 2020 ALCS
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Houston Astros
AL Wild Card Team #6 29-31 |
VS. |
Tampa Bay Rays
AL East Champs 40-20 |
For video highlights, go to the 2020 Recap Page.
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SAN DIEGO - Jose Altuve turned on the 10th pitch of the game thrown by Rays starter Blake Snell on Sunday night and launched a home run over the left-field wall at Petco Park, appearing to set the stage for perhaps another big night from the slugging Astros offense. The remaining eight innings proved to be an exercise in frustration from missed opportunities -- something the Astros experienced all too often during the regular season. Instead of the high-octane offense that scored 33 runs in four games in their American League Division Series win over the A's, the Astros were stifled by five Rays pitchers in a 2-1 loss in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series. In postseason history, teams winning Game 1 of any best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series 114 of 179 times (64 percent). "It's disappointing," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "We hit some balls good. Opportunity's the name of the game. If you keep getting opportunities, sooner or later you're going to come through. If you don't get an opportunity, you don't have a chance. We had a heck of a chance tonight, and they just got away." The Astros went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 on base. That was a far cry from the explosive offense that bashed 12 home runs in the ALDS against the A's at Dodger Stadium. Still, of the 13 balls hit at 95 mph or harder on Sunday, nine were by the Astros, including two of the four outs made by leadoff hitter George Springer.
Tampa Bay Rays 2, Houston Astros 1 American League Championship Series, Game 1 Played on Sunday, October 11th, 2020 (D) at Petco Park HOU A 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 9 1 TAM A 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 x - 2 6 0 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Altuve 2b 5 1 2 1 0 1 1 2 Brantley lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Bregman 3b 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 Correa ss 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 Tucker rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 Gurriel 1b 2 0 0 0 2 0 7 0 Diaz dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Maldonado c 3 0 0 0 0 1 13 1 Reddick ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Straw pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Valdez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paredes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Raley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 33 1 9 1 4 5 24 9 FIELDING - DP: 1. Correa-Altuve-Gurriel. E: Correa (1). BATTING - HR: Altuve (1,1st inning off Snell 0 on 1 out). HBP: Brantley (1,by Loup). GDP: Gurriel (1,off Castillo). Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING - SB: Brantley (1,2nd base off Snell/Zunino). CS: Springer (1,2nd base by Snell/Zunino). Tampa Bay Rays AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Brosseau 3b,1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 Arozarena dh 4 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 Lowe 2b 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 3 Diaz 1b 2 0 1 0 2 1 8 1 Wendle pr,3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Renfroe rf 4 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 Adames ss 2 1 0 0 2 1 2 2 Margot lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Kiermaier cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 Zunino c 3 0 1 1 0 1 5 1 Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Curtiss p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Thompson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Loup p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Castillo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 29 2 6 2 5 13 27 12 FIELDING - DP: 2. Adames, Lowe-Diaz. PB: Zunino (1). BATTING - 2B: Kiermaier 2 (2,off Valdez,off Taylor). HR: Arozarena (1,4th inning off Valdez 0 on 1 out). HBP: Brosseau (1,by Taylor). GDP: Adames (1,off Valdez). Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING - CS: Kiermaier (1,3rd base by Valdez/Maldonado). PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Valdez L(0-1) 6 4 2 2 4 8 1 25 Taylor 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 Paredes 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 Raley 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 5 Totals 8 6 2 2 5 13 1 35 HBP: Taylor (1,Brosseau). Inherited Runners - Scored: Paredes 2-0. Tampa Bay Rays IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Snell W(1-0) 5 6 1 1 2 2 1 21 Curtiss 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 5 Thompson 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Loup 0.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4 Castillo SV(1) 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 Totals 9 9 1 1 4 5 1 38 WP: Loup (1). HBP: Loup (1,Brantley). Inherited Runners - Scored: Castillo 3-0. Umpires: HP - Manny Gonzalez, 1B - Jeff Nelson, 2B - Chris Conroy, 3B - Ted Barrett, LF - Tim Timmons, RF - Lance Barksdale Time of Game: 3:50 |
ALCS Game 2 at San Diego - Rays 4, Astros 2
Monday, October 12th
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
HOU 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 - 2 10 2
TAM 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 4 4 0
Win - Morton. Loss - McCullers. Save - Anderson.
HR - Correa, Margot, Zunino
Time - 3:01. Attendance - n/a.
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SAN DIEGO - Whether it was the long layoff, the fact that he's 36 years old or a lack of rhythm on the mound, Charlie Morton didn't quite look like himself during the regular season. Morton's velocity was down, which led to the right-hander posting a 4.74 ERA in nine regular-season starts, the highest since he finished with a 4.81 ERA in 2015 with the Pirates. But despite the struggles, the Rays stuck with the veteran Morton, knowing he would rise to the occasion in the postseason. It was his success in October that ultimately led Tampa Bay to sign him to a club record two-year, $30 million deal in 2018. That patience has paid off for Tampa Bay, as Morton continued his postseason dominance with the club, tossing five shutout innings in the Rays' 4-2 win over the Astros in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Petco Park on Monday. In four postseason starts with the Rays, Morton is now 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA. His four wins are the most by a Rays pitcher in postseason history. With the win, the Rays take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which has proven to be a good place to be. In playoff history, teams that have won the first two games of any best-of-seven series have gone on to win that series 72 of 85 times (85 percent). However, no team has rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-seven series since the 2004 Red Sox came back from the only 0-3 deficit in MLB history, in the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. Dating back to the '04 World Series, teams ahead 2-0 have gone on to win the series 22 straight times.
Tampa Bay Rays 4, Houston Astros 2 American League Championship Series, Game 2 Played on Monday, October 12th, 2020 (D) at Petco Park HOU A 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 - 2 10 2 TAM A 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 x - 4 4 0 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Altuve 2b 4 0 1 0 1 2 0 2 Brantley dh 4 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 Bregman 3b 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Tucker lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 Correa ss 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 1 Gurriel 1b 3 1 2 0 0 0 8 0 Reddick rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Maldonado c 2 0 1 0 1 1 13 0 Diaz ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Straw pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 McCullers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Scrubb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 36 2 10 1 3 8 24 7 FIELDING - E: Altuve 2 (2). BATTING - 2B: Maldonado (1,off Morton). HR: Correa (1,6th inning off Fairbanks 0 on 1 out). HBP: Gurriel (1,by Morton). GDP: Springer (1,off Anderson). Team LOB: 11. Tampa Bay Rays AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Meadows dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Lowe 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 Arozarena lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 Renfroe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Choi 1b 4 1 0 0 0 3 7 0 Margot rf,lf 3 1 1 3 0 0 2 0 Wendle 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Adames ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 Kiermaier cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 Zunino c 2 1 1 1 0 0 9 0 Morton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fairbanks p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Loup p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thompson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Anderson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 30 4 4 4 0 13 27 8 FIELDING - DP: 1. Lowe-Choi. PB: Zunino (2). BATTING - HR: Margot (1,1st inning off McCullers 2 on 2 out); Zunino (1,7th inning off McCullers 0 on 2 out). HBP: Zunino (1,by McCullers). Team LOB: 3. PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP McCullers L(0-1) 7 4 4 1 0 11 2 28 Scrubb 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 Totals 8 4 4 1 0 13 2 31 HBP: McCullers (1,Zunino). Tampa Bay Rays IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Morton W(1-0) 5 5 0 0 1 5 0 22 Fairbanks 2 1 1 1 0 3 1 7 Loup 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 Thompson 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Anderson SV(1) 1 3 1 1 2 0 0 7 Totals 9 10 2 2 3 8 1 40 HBP: Morton (1,Gurriel). Inherited Runners - Scored: Thompson 1-0. Umpires: HP - John Tumpane, 1B - Chris Conroy, 2B - Ted Barrett, 3B - Tim Timmons, LF - Lance Barksdale, RF - Manny Gonzalez Time of Game: 3:01
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SAN DIEGO - Despite winning 40 games and entering the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the American League, the Rays flew under the radar during the regular season. Catcher Mike Zunino said he’s not sure if that's because Tampa Bay is a small-market team or if it's because of the perceived notion that there are no superstars on the roster.
With a 5-2 win over the Astros in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series on Tuesday night at Petco Park, the Rays are now one win away from going to the World Series, and the baseball world has officially been put on notice. In postseason history, teams taking a 3-0 lead in any best-of-seven series have gone on to win 37 of 38 times (97 percent). The 2004 Red Sox, in the ALCS against the Yankees, are the only team to rally after losing the first three games. Of the 37 teams to win after going ahead 3-0, 30 have completed the sweep, five have finished it off in Game 5 and two have won in Game 6. "We have guys that play the game the right way," said Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. "We don’t have a whole lot of household names, but we have plenty of well-above-average Major League Baseball players in our clubhouse, and we know we can play, and here we are thriving on the big stage." This postseason, the Rays have proven that they're not only a good team, but one that deserves to be in the conversation of the best team in the Majors. Tampa Bay has shown its reliable and talented depth, getting a heroic effort from a different player every night.
Tampa Bay Rays 5, Houston Astros 2 American League Championship Series Game 3 Played on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 (D) at Petco Park TAM A 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 - 5 8 0 HOU A 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 2 7 1 BATTING Tampa Bay Rays AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Meadows dh 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Arozarena lf 4 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 Lowe 2b 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 Diaz 1b 5 1 1 0 0 1 7 0 Brosseau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wendle 3b 4 1 2 2 0 0 1 1 Margot rf,cf 3 0 1 0 0 2 3 0 Kiermaier cf 2 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 Zunino c 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 Adames ss 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 3 Perez c 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 Renfroe ph,rf 2 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 Yarbrough p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fairbanks p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Curtiss p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Thompson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Loup p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Castillo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 35 5 8 5 2 9 27 7 BATTING - 2B: Arozarena (1,off Urquidy); Renfroe (1,off Raley). SH: Margot (1,off Paredes). HBP: Kiermaier (1,by Paredes); Adames (1,by Paredes). IBB: Arozarena (1,by Raley). Team LOB: 8. Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 4 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 Altuve 2b 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 2 Brantley lf 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 Bregman 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 Correa ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 Tucker rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Gurriel 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 Diaz dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Reddick ph,dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Garneau c 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 Maldonado c 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 Toro ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Urquidy p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paredes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Raley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 34 2 7 2 4 9 27 6 FIELDING - E: Altuve (3). BATTING - HR: Altuve (2,1st inning off Yarbrough 0 on 1 out); Brantley (1,6th inning off Yarbrough 0 on 0 out). HBP: Bregman (1,by Yarbrough). Team LOB: 10. PITCHING Tampa Bay Rays IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Yarbrough W(1-0) 5 3 2 2 2 5 2 21 Fairbanks 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Curtiss 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 5 Thompson 0.1 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 Loup 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Castillo SV(2) 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 5 Totals 9 7 2 2 4 9 2 39 Yarbrough faced 1 batter in the 6th inning Curtiss faced 1 batter in the 8th inning HBP: Yarbrough (1,Bregman). Inherited Runners - Scored: Thompson 1-0; Loup 3-0. Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Urquidy L(0-1) 5 4 2 1 1 4 0 21 Paredes 0.1 2 3 3 0 0 0 5 Raley 0.2 1 0 0 1 1 0 4 James 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 6 Taylor 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 Totals 9 8 5 4 2 9 0 40 Urquidy faced 2 batters in the 6th inning HBP: Paredes 2 (2,Kiermaier,Adames). IBB: Raley (1,Arozarena). Inherited Runners - Scored: Paredes 2-2; Raley 3-2. Umpires: HP - Jeff Nelson, 1B - Ted Barrett, 2B - Tim Timmons, 3B - Lance Barksdale, LF - Manny Gonzalez, RF - John Tumpane Time of Game: 3:59 |
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SAN DIEGO - Astros manager Dusty Baker had closer Ryan Pressly warming in the bullpen as he strolled to the mound to visit pitcher Zack Greinke with runners at first and second and one out in the sixth inning Wednesday. With red-hot Randy Arozarena - who had homered his previous at-bat - coming up as the go-ahead run, it was decision time for the veteran manager. While Greinke stood silent, veteran catcher Martín Maldonado laid out his case for why Greinke should stay in the game. Matchups and pitch counts went out the window. Baker decided to trust his gut - and his catcher - and keep Greinke on the mound for a crucial at-bat. The decision, though surprising, proved to be a solid one for Baker, who watched Greinke strike out Arozarena swinging and - after an infield hit that loaded the bases - strike out Mike Brosseau swinging to end the threat. The Astros preserved the lead and went on to beat the Rays, 4-3, in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at San Diego's Petco Park. The Rays lead the best-of-seven series, 3-1, heading into Thursday's Game 5. "It was nice having someone have confidence in me," Greinke said. "Since I've been here, they haven't seemed to have confidence in my ability. It was nice having that happen in an important time like that.' After Greinke threw six innings and struck out seven with two runs allowed, Cristian Javier allowed one run in two-plus innings and Pressly finally entered the game in the ninth, stranding the tying run at third base to end the game and send the Astros into tomorrow. Of the 38 previous teams to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series, only eight had avoided a sweep and forced Game 5. Of those, three made it to Game 6. The only team to win a series after trailing 3-0 was the 2004 Red Sox in the ALCS against the Yankees.
Houston Astros 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3 American League Championship Series Game 4 Played on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 (N) at Petco Park TAM A 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 - 3 7 0 HOU A 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 x - 4 9 0 BATTING BATTING Tampa Bay Rays AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Margot cf 4 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 Meadows rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 Arozarena lf 4 1 1 2 0 3 2 0 Choi 1b 3 0 1 0 1 2 8 1 Brosseau 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 Lowe ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Wendle 3b 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Adames ss 3 0 1 1 1 0 3 5 Tsutsugo dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Zunino c 3 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 Glasnow p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Alvarado p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Slegers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 33 3 7 3 2 11 24 12 FIELDING - DP: 4. Choi-Adames-Choi, Adames-Brosseau-Choi, Adames-Choi, Brosseau-Adames-Choi. BATTING - 2B: Adames (1,off Pressly). HR: Arozarena (2,4th inning off Greinke 1 on 1 out). GDP: Tsutsugo (1,off Greinke). Team LOB: 5. Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf,rf 4 1 3 2 0 0 3 0 Brantley lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 Straw cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Altuve 2b 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 Bregman 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 Correa ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 Tucker rf,lf 3 0 1 0 0 2 3 0 Gurriel 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 Reddick dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Diaz ph,dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Maldonado c 2 2 1 0 1 1 11 0 Greinke p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Javier p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 29 4 9 4 3 7 27 7 FIELDING - DP: 1. Correa-Bregman-Gurriel. BATTING - 2B: Altuve (1,off Glasnow). HR: Altuve (3,1st inning off Glasnow 0 on 2 out); Springer (1,5th inning off Glasnow 1 on 1 out). GDP: Brantley (1,off Glasnow); Altuve (1,off Glasnow); Correa 2 (2,off Glasnow,off Slegers). Team LOB: 4. PITCHING Tampa Bay Rays IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Glasnow L(0-1) 6 8 4 4 2 5 2 25 Alvarado 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4 Slegers 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Totals 8 9 4 4 3 7 2 32 Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Greinke W(1-0) 6 5 2 2 1 7 1 23 Javier 2 1 1 1 1 3 0 8 Pressly SV(1) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 Totals 9 7 3 3 2 11 1 35 Javier faced 1 batter in the 9th inning WP: Pressly (1). Inherited Runners - Scored: Pressly 1-1. Umpires: HP - Chris Conroy, 1B - Tim Timmons, 2B - Lance Barksdale, 3B - Manny Gonzalez, LF - John Tumpane, RF - Jeff Nelson Time of Game: 3:08 |
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SAN DIEGO - For Carlos Correa, it was more than a feeling or a hunch. It was a belief. His swing was feeling great, the moment was primed for a hero and the Astros needed him more than ever before. Correa was so confident something was going to happen, he told manager Dusty Baker he was going to win the game when he stepped to the plate in the ninth inning Thursday. "Carlos told me before he went up there, he goes: 'Walk-off,'" Baker said. "I said, 'Go ahead on, man.'" Correa crushed a fastball from Rays reliever Nick Anderson and sailed it 416 feet over the center-field wall at Petco Park in San Diego for a walk-off homer to send the never-say-die Astros to a dramatic 4-3 win in what has suddenly become a tight American League Championship Series. The Rays lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2, heading into Friday's Game 6. "I knew I was going to end it," said Correa, who also hit a walk-off homer in Game 2 of last year's ALCS against the Yankees. "I could feel my swing was in sync. I could feel my rhythm was good, and I felt like I was going to drive the ball. I believed I could do it." The Astros are the 39th team in postseason history to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven series, but they are now only the fourth to keep the series going to a Game 6. Of the previous three to survive that long, two lost Game 6 (the 1999 Mets vs. the Braves, and 1998 Braves vs. the Padres, both in the NLCS). The other, the 2004 Red Sox vs. the Yankees in the ALCS, are the only team to ever win a series after dropping the first three games - the blueprint that Houston is now just two wins away from replicating. Houston Astros 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3 American League Championship Series Game 5 Played on Thursday, October 15, 2020 (D) at Petco Park TB A 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 - 3 7 1 HOU A 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 4 6 0 BATTING Tampa Bay Rays AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Lowe 2b 5 1 1 1 0 2 5 2 Arozarena lf 5 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 Meadows rf 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 Perez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Diaz dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Choi 1b 2 1 2 1 2 0 9 0 Margot cf,rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 Wendle 3b 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 Adames ss 3 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 Zunino c 4 0 2 0 0 1 5 0 Kiermaier pr,cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Curtiss p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Fleming p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Slegers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Anderson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 33 3 7 3 5 11 25 11 FIELDING - DP: 1. Wendle-Lowe-Choi. E: Slegers (1). BATTING - HR: Lowe (1,3rd inning off Taylor 0 on 0 out); Arozarena (3,5th inning off Paredes 0 on 1 out); Choi (1,8th inning off James 0 on 0 out). HBP: Wendle (1,by Garcia). GDP: Wendle (1,off James). Team LOB: 9. Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 0 Brantley dh 4 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 Altuve 2b 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 Bregman 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Correa ss 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Tucker lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Gurriel 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 Reddick rf 2 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 Maldonado c 3 1 1 0 0 1 11 0 Garcia p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paredes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scrubb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Raley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 29 4 6 4 3 5 27 8 FIELDING - DP: 1. James-Correa-Gurriel. BATTING - 2B: Maldonado (2,off Fleming). HR: Springer (2,1st inning off Curtiss 0 on 0 out); Correa (2,9th inning off Anderson 0 on 1 out). GDP: Bregman (1,off Fleming). IBB: Reddick (1,by Slegers). Team LOB: 3. PITCHING Tampa Bay Rays IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Curtiss 1.1 1 1 1 1 2 1 5 Fleming 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 12 Slegers 2.2 1 0 0 1 2 0 10 Anderson L(0-1) 1.1 1 1 1 0 0 1 5 Totals 8.1 6 4 4 3 5 2 32 IBB: Slegers (1,Reddick). Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Garcia 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 9 Taylor 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 1 3 Paredes 1.2 1 1 1 3 3 1 9 Scrubb 1.1 2 0 0 0 2 0 6 Raley 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 James 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 4 Pressly W(1-0) 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 5 Totals 9 7 3 3 5 11 3 39 WP: Pressly (2). HBP: Garcia (1,Wendle). Inherited Runners - Scored: Scrubb 1-0; Raley 1-0. Umpires: HP - Ted Barrett, 1B - Lance Barksdale, 2B - Manny Gonzalez, 3B - John Tumpane, LF - Jeff Nelson, RF - Chris Conroy Time of Game: 3:36 |
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SAN DIEGO - The momentum shift began when George Springer hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning of Game 4 to break a tie and give the Astros some hope. It picked up serious steam when Carlos Correa hit a walk-off homer in the ninth inning to win Game 5, sparking a home-plate celebration that had 71-year-old manager Dusty Baker dancing. Any doubts the Astros had about their ability to win the American League Championship Series were wiped away Friday night at Petco Park, where lefty Framber Valdez held the Rays to one run in six innings and Springer's two-run single sparked a four-run outburst in the fifth that led the Astros to a 7-4 win in Game 6 to even the series at three games apiece. "We're relentless," Correa said. "When we said we didn't want to go home, we really meant that. We want to keep playing baseball and we don't want this to be the end of our season. We took care of these three games and now we've got to take care of one more. If we don't win that game, it all means nothing. We have to go out there tomorrow and get that win. It would be great." The Astros are the 39th team in postseason history to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven series but only the second to then force a Game 7. The other was the 2004 Red Sox, who came all the way back to beat the Yankees in the ALCS. The Astros will send Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound in Game 7 on Saturday against Tampa Bay's Charlie Morton, who won Game 7 of the ALCS and Game 7 of the World Series for Houston in 2017. "We have the right guy," catcher Martín Maldonado said. "He's been there before, pitching Game 7 of the World Series. I just feel we're going to take this game like we have been taking every game, one pitch at a time. As long as we keep executing pitches, keep playing defense like we are, we're going to be in good shape." Houston Astros 7, Tampa Bay Rays 4 American League Championship Series Game 6 Played on Friday, October 16, 2020 (N) at Petco Park HOU A 0 0 0 0 4 1 2 0 0 - 7 11 0 TB A 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 - 4 6 0 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf,rf 4 1 1 2 1 2 0 0 Altuve 2b 3 2 2 1 2 0 1 4 Brantley dh 4 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 Correa ss 5 0 3 1 0 2 2 4 Bregman 3b 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 Tucker rf,lf 3 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 Gurriel 1b 2 1 0 0 3 0 10 1 Diaz lf 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 Reddick rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Straw cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Maldonado c 2 0 0 0 1 1 13 1 Valdez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scrubb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Javier p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 33 7 11 7 9 11 27 12 FIELDING - DP: 2. Altuve-Correa-Gurriel, Correa-Altuve-Gurriel. PB: Maldonado (1). BATTING - 2B: Altuve (2,off Castillo); Correa (1,off McClanahan). HR: Tucker (1,6th inning off McClanahan 0 on 0 out). SH: Maldonado (1,off Castillo). SF: Tucker (1,off McClanahan). GDP: Bregman 2 (3,off Snell,off Castillo). Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING - CS: Altuve (1,2nd base by Snell/Zunino). Tampa Bay Rays AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Brosseau 2b 4 0 0 0 1 3 2 2 Arozarena dh 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Renfroe rf 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 Meadows ph,rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Diaz 1b 2 0 0 0 1 1 7 1 Choi ph,1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Lowe lf 3 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 Margot cf 4 2 2 3 0 1 0 0 Adames ss 2 0 1 1 2 0 3 3 Wendle 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 Zunino c 3 0 0 0 0 2 11 2 Tsutsugo ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Castillo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 McClanahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alvarado p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Loup p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Curtiss p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 31 4 6 4 6 13 27 10 FIELDING - DP: 3. Zunino-Adames, Wendle-Brosseau-Diaz, Adames-Diaz. PB: Zunino 3 (5). BATTING - 2B: Adames (2,off Valdez). HR: Margot 2 (3,7th inning off Scrubb 0 on 0 out,8th inning off Javier 1 on 2 out). GDP: Lowe (1,off Valdez); Brosseau (1,off Pressly). Team LOB: 6. PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Valdez W(1-1) 6 3 1 1 3 9 0 23 Scrubb 0.2 1 1 1 2 1 1 5 Taylor 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Javier 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 5 Pressly SV(2) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 Totals 9 6 4 4 6 13 2 37 Inherited Runners - Scored: Taylor 2-0. Tampa Bay Rays IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Snell L(1-1) 4 3 2 2 4 4 0 17 Castillo 1 3 2 1 1 0 0 6 McClanahan 1.2 5 3 3 1 2 1 11 Alvarado 0.2 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 Loup 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 Curtiss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Totals 9 11 7 6 9 11 1 44 Snell faced 2 batters in the 5th inning WP: Snell (1). Inherited Runners - Scored: Castillo 2-2; Alvarado 2-0; Loup 3-0. Umpires: HP - Tim Timmons, 1B - Manny Gonzalez, 2B - John Tumpane, 3B - Jeff Nelson, LF - Chris Conroy, RF - Ted Barrett Time of Game: 4:01 |
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SAN DIEGO - The year started with players around the league questioning the validity of the Astros' 2017 World Series title in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the sport in January, and it continued through a litany of devastating injuries as Houston stumbled into the playoffs with a sub.-500 record. If ever a team felt it had something to prove, it was this year's Astros. Considered an afterthought when the playoffs started, the Astros came within one win of reaching their third World Series in four years before running out of magic in a 4-2 loss to the Rays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday night at Petco Park. You can dislike the Astros all you want, but they showed in 2020 that they still have as much talent and moxy as ever and appear primed to contend again next season. "I'm extremely proud of this team for fighting every single day, battling every pitch and going out there and playing hard and playing for one another," third baseman Alex Bregman said. "But like I said before, our goal is always to win the last game of the season, so it's time to work extremely hard in the offseason and get better." The Rays advanced to their first World Series since 2008, while the Astros were left to rummage through the disappointment of coming up short in the ALCS despite becoming just the second team in MLB history to even a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games. In all four losses to the Rays, the Astros had the tying run or go-ahead run at the plate in the ninth inning, including Game 7. But when Aledmys Diaz flied out to right field, one of the most tumultuous seasons - and in a lot of ways, most gratifying seasons - in Astros history came to an end. Tampa Bay Rays 4, Houston Astros 2 American League Championship Series Game 7 Played on Saturday, October 17, 2020 (N) at Petco Park HOU A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 2 7 0 TB A 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 x - 4 6 0 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Altuve 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 3 Brantley dh 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Correa ss 4 0 1 2 0 2 3 2 Bregman 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 Stubbs c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tucker lf 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 Gurriel 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 Reddick rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 Maldonado c 1 0 0 0 1 1 11 0 Diaz ph,3b 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 McCullers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Raley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Urquidy p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paredes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 33 2 7 2 3 9 24 8 FIELDING - DP: 1. Diaz-Gurriel. BATTING - GDP: Gurriel (2,off Anderson). Team LOB: 7. Tampa Bay Rays AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Margot rf 2 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 Lowe 2b 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 4 Arozarena lf 4 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 Meadows dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Choi 1b 3 1 2 0 1 0 10 0 Brosseau pr,1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Adames ss 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 2 Wendle 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 Zunino c 2 1 1 2 0 1 9 0 Kiermaier cf 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 Morton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Anderson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fairbanks p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 28 4 6 4 4 11 27 10 FIELDING - DP: 1. Adames-Lowe-Choi. BATTING - HR: Arozarena (4,1st inning off McCullers 1 on 1 out); Zunino (2,2nd inning off McCullers 0 on 1 out). SF: Zunino (1,off Urquidy). HBP: Margot (1,by McCullers). GDP: Wendle (2,off Paredes). Team LOB: 6. PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP McCullers L(0-2) 3.2 4 3 3 1 7 2 17 Raley 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Urquidy 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 9 Taylor 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 Paredes 0.2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Totals 8 6 4 4 4 11 2 34 HBP: McCullers (2,Margot). Inherited Runners - Scored: Raley 1-0; Paredes 1-0. Tampa Bay Rays IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Morton W(2-0) 5.2 2 0 0 1 6 0 20 Anderson 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 9 Fairbanks SV(1) 1.1 2 0 0 1 3 0 7 Totals 9 7 2 2 3 9 0 36 WP: Fairbanks (1). Inherited Runners - Scored: Anderson 2-0; Fairbanks 2-2. Umpires: HP - Lance Barksdale, 1B - John Tumpane, 2B - Jeff Nelson, 3B - Chris Conroy, LF - Ted Barrett, RF - Tim Timmons Time of Game: 3:14 |
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Information for this page was compiled from Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays media sources, the Houston Chronicle, MLB.com and Retrosheet.org. Recaps by Brian McTaggart and Matt Young.