Houston Astros 2020 Wild Card Round and ALDS
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Houston Astros
AL Wild Card Team #6 29-31 |
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Minnesota Twins
AL Central Champs 36-24 |
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BLOOMINGTON - A mostly empty Target Field in late September 2020 is a long way from a packed Dodger Stadium in early November 2017. A lot has happened to the Astros since they won their only World Series with a Game 7 triumph in Los Angeles three years ago, when starter Charlie Morton played the role of hero by throwing four innings of one-run ball in relief. That blueprint, even under a different regime, still proved to be a reliable one for the Astros in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series on Tuesday afternoon. Lefty Framber Valdez - perhaps their best starter - threw five scoreless innings in relief and saw his team take advantage of a ninth-inning Twins error to rally for three runs in an improbable 4-1 win. "It's incredible for me," Valdez said. "It means a lot for me and the team for them to show me that kind of confidence in me to let me demonstrate the pitcher I am and always have been. And it's been really huge for me to get to this point in the season. I think this is going to be a great playoffs, both for me and the team." Valdez became the first relief pitcher to throw five scoreless innings in a playoff game since Madison Bumgarner in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series. "We needed that kind of performance today," said Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning after a two-out error by shortstop Jorge Polanco. "It's been like that all season long. That's the kind of pitcher he is, and we're happy for him."
Houston Astros 4, Minnesota Twins 1 American League Wild Card Round, Game 1 Played on Tuesday, September 29th, 2020 (D) at Target Field HOU A 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 - 4 8 0 MIN A 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 4 1 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 5 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 Altuve 2b 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 Brantley dh 5 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 Bregman 3b 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 Tucker lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 Gurriel 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 10 2 Correa ss 2 1 1 0 2 1 0 2 Reddick rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 Maldonado c 4 0 1 0 0 2 6 0 Greinke p 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Valdez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 35 4 8 4 5 7 27 9 FIELDING - DP: 1. Bregman-Gurriel. BATTING - 2B: Brantley (1,off Maeda). Team LOB: 9. Minnesota Twins AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Arraez 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Buxton cf 4 0 1 0 0 3 4 1 Kepler rf 2 1 0 0 2 0 3 0 Cruz dh 3 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 Rosario lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Sano 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 Polanco ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 Jeffers c 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 Garver ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Avila c 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Astudillo ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gonzalez 3b 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 2 Maeda p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 May p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Duffey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rogers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Romo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thielbar p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 30 1 4 1 5 6 27 4 FIELDING - E: Polanco (1). BATTING - 2B: Cruz (1,off Greinke). GDP: Astudillo (1,off Valdez). Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING - SB: Buxton (1,2nd base off Greinke/Maldonado). PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Greinke 4 2 1 1 3 1 0 17 Valdez W(1-0) 5 2 0 0 2 5 0 18 Totals 9 4 1 1 5 6 0 35 Minnesota Twins IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Maeda 5 2 0 0 3 5 0 20 May 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Duffey 1 3 1 1 1 1 0 6 Rogers 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Romo L(0-1) 0.2 2 3 0 1 0 0 6 Thielbar 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Totals 9 8 4 1 5 7 0 40 |
Wild Card Round Game 2 at Minnesota - Astros 3, Twins 1
Wednesday, September 30th
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
HOU 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 - 3 5 1
MIN 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 1 3 0
Win - Javier. Loss - Stashak.
HR - Correa
Time - 3:32. Attendance - n/a.
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BLOOMINGTON - An Astros team that struggled to make the playoffs, finished the season with a sub-.500 record and wasn't given much of a chance to beat the Twins in the American League Wild Card Series has suddenly found its postseason swagger. The No. 6-seed Astros pulled off a surprising sweep in the best-of-three series behind terrific pitching and a seventh-inning homer from Carlos Correa to eliminate the No. 3-seed Twins with a 3-1 win in Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon at Target Field. Minnesota hadn't lost two games in a row at home this year before Houston came to town. "I know a lot of people are mad, I know a lot of people don't want to see us here, but what are they going to say now?" Correa said. "We're a solid team, we play great baseball and we won a series on the road, in Minnesota, so what are they going to say now?" Correa, of course, is snapping back at the critics who have lashed out at the Astros this year in the fallout of the sign-stealing scandal and questioned the validity of their 2017 World Series title. Houston entered the playoffs without much fanfare or outside expectations, but it is advancing yet again. The defending AL champions will open the best-of-five AL Division Series on Monday in Los Angeles against either the A's. "We had a tough year since the start of Spring Training, but now it's all about playing great baseball," Correa said. "I think we showed everybody we have a solid team. Minnesota, in a lot of brackets, was supposed to win the World Series. We swept a great team in Minnesota, and I think we deserve a lot of respect as a team. We played great baseball, our pitching staff did a great job, we got some clutch hits and we were able to win the series."
Houston Astros 3, Minnesota Twins 1
American League Wild Card Round, Game 2
Played on Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 (D) at Target Field
HOU A 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 - 3 5 1
MIN A 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 1 3 0
BATTING
Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Springer cf,rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 0
Altuve 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
Brantley dh 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 0
Bregman 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 0
Tucker lf 4 0 2 2 0 1 3 1
Gurriel 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Correa ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 1
Reddick rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 0
Straw cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Maldonado c 3 0 0 0 0 1 9 0
Urquidy p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Raley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Javier p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 32 3 5 3 3 6 27 8
FIELDING -
E: Altuve (1).
BATTING -
HR: Correa (1,7th inning off Stashak 0 on 2 out).
Team LOB: 5.
Minnesota Twins AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Arraez 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 2
Kepler cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 4 0
Cruz dh 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
Buxton pr,dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rosario lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Cave lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Sano 1b 3 0 0 0 1 1 10 0
Kirilloff rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Polanco ss 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 4
Gonzalez 3b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
Jeffers c 3 0 0 0 0 2 6 1
Berrios p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Stashak p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
May p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rogers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Duffey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 29 1 3 1 5 8 27 11
BATTING -
2B: Cruz (2,off Raley).
Team LOB: 6.
BASERUNNING -
CS: Buxton (1,2nd base by Javier/Maldonado).
PITCHING
Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP
Urquidy 4.1 2 1 1 2 3 0 18
Raley 0.2 1 0 0 1 1 0 3
Javier W(1-0) 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 10
Pressly SV(1) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3
Totals 9 3 1 1 5 8 0 34
Minnesota Twins IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP
Berrios 5 2 1 1 2 4 0 19
Stashak L(0-1) 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 7
May 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Rogers 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 3
Duffey 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3
Totals 9 5 3 3 3 6 1 35
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2020 American League Division Series
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Houston Astros
Wild Card Team #6 29-31 |
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Oakland Athletics
AL West Champions 36-24 |
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LOS ANGELES - So much for the Astros' offense missing in action. So much for Carlos Correa's sudden lack of power. So much for the Astros taking a back seat to the A's.
The Astros were back to being the free-swinging, full-of-swagger bunch that baseball fans have come to love -- and more recently, hate -- through the last four Octobers. The names everybody knows -- Correa, George Springer, Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve -- shone brightly in the fall spotlight Monday afternoon as the Astros served notice they're still a force to be reckoned with in the American League. The Astros' resurgence erupted at Dodger Stadium behind two homers from Correa, one from Bregman, four hits from Springer and a go-ahead two-run single by Altuve in the sixth that sent them to a resounding 10-5 win over the A's in Game 1 of the AL Division Series. "October baseball, the energy is just different," said Correa, who has the most playoff homers (14) and RBIs (38) by any player before his 27th birthday. "I know there's no fans this year, but the energy in being able to win, knowing you win or go home, that's what drives me every single day." The Astros, who finished seven games behind the A's in the AL West standings with a 29-31 record, won their sixth consecutive playoff game on the road to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Houston Astros 10, Oakland Athletics 5 American League Division Series Game 1 Played on Monday, October 5, 2020 (D) at Dodger Stadium HOU A 0 0 0 3 0 4 1 0 2 - 10 16 1 OAK A 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 - 5 8 1 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 5 1 4 1 0 1 1 0 Altuve 2b 4 1 2 2 0 1 0 2 Brantley lf 5 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 Bregman 3b 4 2 2 1 1 0 0 2 Tucker rf 5 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 Correa ss 5 2 3 4 0 2 1 3 Gurriel 1b 3 0 1 1 0 0 9 0 Reddick dh 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Diaz ph,dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Maldonado c 5 1 1 0 0 3 12 0 McCullers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paredes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Javier p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 41 10 16 10 1 9 27 9 FIELDING - DP: 1. Altuve-Correa-Gurriel. E: Bregman (1). BATTING - 2B: Springer (1,off Wendelken). HR: Bregman (1,4th inning off Bassitt 0 on 0 out); Correa 2 (2,4th inning off Bassitt 1 on 0 out,7th inning off Trivino 0 on 1 out). SF: Gurriel (1,off McFarland). HBP: Gurriel (1,by Trivino); Altuve (1,by Minor). Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING - CS: Altuve (1,2nd base by Minor/Murphy). Oakland Athletics AB R H RBI BB SO PO A La Stella 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 Semien ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 Lamb 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 Pinder ph,3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Canha rf 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 Olson 1b 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 Davis dh 4 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 Grossman lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 Laureano cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 Murphy c 4 1 1 1 0 1 9 1 Bassitt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Petit p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wendelken p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Diekman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Trivino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Minor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Weems p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 McFarland p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Totals 33 5 8 5 2 10 27 4 FIELDING - DP: 1. Lamb-Olson. E: Semien (1). BATTING - 2B: Grossman (1,off McCullers). HR: Davis (1,2nd inning off McCullers 1 on 1 out); Murphy (1,3rd inning off McCullers 0 on 0 out); Olson (1,4th inning off McCullers 0 on 0 out). SF: Canha (1,off Taylor). GDP: Lamb (1,off McCullers). Team LOB: 4. PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP McCullers 4 8 5 4 1 5 3 20 Taylor W(1-0) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Paredes 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 Javier 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 4 Pressly 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Totals 9 8 5 4 2 10 3 36 McCullers faced 1 batter in the 5th inning Inherited Runners - Scored: Taylor 1-1. Oakland Athletics IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Bassitt 4 9 3 3 0 4 2 20 Petit 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Wendelken L(0-1) 0.2 3 4 0 0 1 0 6 Diekman 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 Trivino 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 1 4 Minor 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Weems 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 3 McFarland 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Totals 9 16 10 6 1 9 3 45 Bassitt faced 2 batters in the 5th inning Weems faced 3 batters in the 9th inning HBP: Trivino (1,Gurriel); Minor (1,Altuve). Inherited Runners - Scored: Petit 2-0; Diekman 1-1; McFarland 2-1. Umpires: HP - Tripp Gibson, 1B - Ed Hickox, 2B - Jerry Meals, 3B - Laz Diaz, LF - Ron Kulpa, RF - Adrian Johnson Time of Game: 3:30 |
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LOS ANGELES - Maybe it was ill-advised to doubt the Astros at any point coming into the playoffs. Even after they limped into the postseason with a punchless offense and an untested pitching staff in which Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole were nowhere to be found, Houston clearly isn't ready to take Octobers off. Lefty Framber Valdez held the A's to two runs in seven innings in his first career playoff start and George Springer -- who else? -- clubbed a pair of home runs to send the Astros to a 5-2 win and a 2-0 series lead over the A's in the best-of-five American League Division Series on Tuesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The Astros, winners of seven consecutive road playoff games, are one win away from advancing to the AL Championship Series for the fourth consecutive season. "You've got to put them away when you've got a chance," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "You let them off the mat, these guys know how to win. We'd like to win tomorrow and not have any drama in Games 4 and 5. We know these guys have been here before and we know it's not complete and not done until the final out, and hopefully it's in our favor tomorrow." In the history of best-of-five postseason series, teams taking a 2-0 lead have gone on to win the series 73 of 83 times (88 percent). The most recent team to rally from a 2-0 deficit was the Yankees against the Indians in 2017. Of the 73 teams to advance after winning the first two games, 49 finished off a sweep in Game 3.
Houston Astros 5, Oakland Athletics 2 American League Division Series Game 2 Played on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 (D) at Dodger Stadium HOU A 0 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 - 5 6 0 OAK A 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 6 0 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 4 2 2 3 0 1 3 0 Altuve 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 7 Brantley dh 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Bregman 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Tucker lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Correa ss 3 0 0 1 1 1 3 5 Gurriel 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 12 1 Reddick rf 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Maldonado c 3 1 1 1 0 1 5 1 Valdez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paredes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 31 5 6 5 2 4 27 15 FIELDING - DP: 3. Altuve-Correa-Gurriel, Altuve-Gurriel-Correa, Correa-Altuve-Gurriel. BATTING - 2B: Brantley (1,off Manaea). HR: Springer 2 (2,3rd inning off Manaea 1 on 2 out,5th inning off Petit 0 on 1 out); Maldonado (1,5th inning off Manaea 0 on 1 out). HBP: Bregman (1,by Minor). GDP: Brantley (1,off Manaea); Gurriel (1,off Trivino). Team LOB: 2. Oakland Athletics AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Semien ss 3 0 2 0 1 0 3 7 La Stella 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Pinder 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 Canha lf,rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 Davis dh 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 Olson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 14 1 Murphy c 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 Laureano cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Piscotty rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 Grossman ph,lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Manaea p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Petit p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Minor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Soria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Trivino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 29 2 6 2 1 5 27 16 FIELDING - DP: 2. Pinder-Semien-Olson, La Stella-Semien-Olson. BATTING - HR: Davis (2,2nd inning off Valdez 0 on 1 out); Pinder (1,4th inning off Valdez 0 on 0 out). GDP: La Stella (1,off Valdez); Olson (1,off Valdez); Pinder (1,off Pressly). Team LOB: 1. PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Valdez W(1-0) 7 5 2 2 1 4 2 24 Paredes 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Pressly SV(1) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 Totals 9 6 2 2 1 5 2 30 Oakland Athletics IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Manaea L(0-1) 4.1 5 4 4 1 2 2 18 Petit 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 1 3 Minor 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 Soria 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Trivino 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Totals 9 6 5 5 2 4 3 34 HBP: Minor (2,Bregman). Umpires: HP - Ed Hickox, 1B - Jerry Meals, 2B - Laz Diaz, 3B - Ron Kulpa, LF - Adrian Johnson, RF - Tripp Gibson Time of Game: 2:54 |
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LOS ANGELES - Nine outs away from punching their ticket to the American League Championship Series, the Astros have suddenly found themselves in a fight with the A's, whose bats came alive in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium. The Astros were riding high after scoring five times in the fifth inning Wednesday, including a two-run homer by Aledmys Diaz, to take a three-run lead, but the A's finally cracked Houston's bullpen to push across five runs in the seventh and eighth and steal a 9-7 win. Still, the Astros lead the best-of-five series, 2-1, and have two more chances to close out the A's, beginning with Thursday's Game 4. The Astros lost Game 3 of the ALDS after building a 2-0 lead in two of the three previous seasons and still managed to close it out. "We're still in the lead," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "This team has been there before. These guys don't seem real worried about it. We got beat today. We made some mistakes. Hopefully we don't make those mistakes tomorrow." In the history of best-of-five postseason series, teams with a 2-1 lead have gone on to win the series 62 of 87 times (71 percent). However, last season, two of the three teams that fell behind 2-1 in the Division Series - the Nationals (vs. Dodgers) and Cardinals (vs. Braves) - came back to win.
Oakland Athletics 9, Houston Astros 7 American League Division Series Game 3 Played on Sunday, October 7, 2020 (D) at Dodger Stadium OAK A 1 1 0 1 1 0 3 2 0 - 9 11 1 HOU A 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 - 7 10 0 BATTING Oakland Athletics AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Semien ss 4 2 2 1 1 0 3 2 La Stella 2b 3 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 Orf pr,2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pinder 3b 4 1 3 4 0 1 2 2 Davis dh 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Olson 1b 4 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 Canha lf,rf 5 1 2 1 0 1 4 0 Piscotty rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grossman ph,lf 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 Laureano cf 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 Murphy c 3 0 0 1 0 1 8 1 Luzardo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Petit p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Diekman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hendriks p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 35 9 11 9 6 7 27 9 FIELDING - DP: 2. Luzardo-Semien-Olson, La Stella-Semien-Olson. E: Murphy (1). BATTING - 2B: Pinder (1,off Urquidy); Laureano (1,off Raley). HR: La Stella (1,1st inning off Urquidy 0 on 1 out); Canha (1,2nd inning off Urquidy 0 on 0 out); Olson (2,4th inning off Urquidy 0 on 0 out); Semien (1,5th inning off Urquidy 0 on 1 out); Pinder (2,7th inning off James 2 on 0 out). SF: Murphy (1,off Raley); Pinder (1,off Raley). HBP: La Stella (1,by Raley). GDP: Laureano (1,off James). Team LOB: 8. Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf 4 1 0 0 0 3 6 0 Altuve 2b 5 1 3 1 0 1 2 1 Brantley lf 5 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 Bregman 3b 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 Correa ss 2 0 1 1 2 0 3 2 xTucker rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 4 0 Gurriel 1b 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 Diaz dh 4 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 Maldonado c 3 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 Reddick ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Garneau c 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Urquidy p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Raley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scrubb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 34 7 10 7 3 8 27 4 x - reached first on interference. FIELDING - DP: 1. Altuve-Correa-Gurriel. BATTING - 2B: Bregman (1,off Petit). HR: Altuve (1,1st inning off Luzardo 0 on 1 out); Diaz (1,5th inning off Luzardo 1 on 0 out). HBP: Springer (1,by Petit). GDP: Brantley (2,off Luzardo); Tucker (1,off Luzardo). IBB: Correa (1,by Petit). Team LOB: 5. PITCHING Oakland Athletics IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Luzardo 4.1 5 4 4 2 2 2 18 Petit 0.1 3 3 3 1 0 0 5 Diekman 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 5 Hendriks W(1-0) 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 11 Totals 9 10 7 7 3 8 2 39 HBP: Petit (1,Springer). IBB: Petit (1,Correa). Inherited Runners - Scored: Diekman 2-1. Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Urquidy 4.1 5 4 4 1 3 4 19 Taylor 0.2 1 0 0 2 0 0 5 James 1 3 3 3 1 0 1 6 Raley L(0-1) 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 10 Scrubb 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4 Totals 9 11 9 9 6 7 5 44 James faced 3 batters in the 7th inning HBP: Raley (1,La Stella). Umpires: HP - Jerry Meals, 1B - Laz Diaz, 2B - Ron Kulpa, 3B - Adrian Johnson, LF - Tripp Gibson, RF - Ed Hickox Time of Game: 3:36 |
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LOS ANGELES - Even with an edge over the Athletics in the American League Division Series, the Astros appeared to be momentarily on the ropes Thursday. Zack Greinke, who had recently complained of arm soreness, had given up a three-run homer that traveled 449 feet and the offense had mustered just one hit in three innings. Looking ahead to a deciding Game 5, the Astros were going to have to rely on Lance McCullers, who got roughed up in Game 1, on short rest to try to put away the Athletics. It was enough to make one wonder if the Astros were returning to regular season form. Then, the playoff bats showed back up. The Astros scored five runs in the fourth inning on a pair of home runs by Michael Brantley and Carlos Correa to jolt the offense to life and lead the Astros to a series-clinching 11-6 win over Oakland in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. The Astros, who won the ALDS 3-1, advance to the American League Championship Series for the fourth straight time. Only the 1970s Athletics, who went five straight years, and the 1998-2001 Yankees have had as long of an ALCS streak.
Houston Astros 11, Oakland Athletics 6 American League Division Series Game 4 Played on Thursday, October 8, 2020 (D) at Dodger Stadium OAK A 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 - 6 11 1 HOU A 0 0 0 5 2 2 2 0 x - 11 14 0 BATTING Oakland Athletics AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Semien ss 4 1 2 1 1 0 2 2 La Stella 2b 5 0 2 1 0 0 3 3 Pinder 3b 4 0 0 0 1 3 1 3 Davis dh 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 Olson 1b 4 1 1 0 0 2 8 0 Canha rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 Laureano cf 4 2 2 4 0 0 1 0 Grossman lf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 Murphy c 4 0 1 0 0 0 7 0 Montas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wendelken p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Minor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Trivino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Soria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Diekman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 McFarland p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 37 6 11 6 2 10 24 8 FIELDING - DP: 2. Semien-La Stella-Olson, Pinder-La Stella. E: Olson (1). BATTING - 2B: Grossman (2,off Javier); La Stella (1,off Javier). HR: Laureano 2 (2,2nd inning off Greinke 2 on 1 out,5th inning off Greinke 0 on 0 out). HBP: Davis (1,by Javier). Team LOB: 7. Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Springer cf,rf 5 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 Altuve 2b 3 3 1 2 2 0 1 2 Brantley dh 5 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 Bregman 3b 4 2 2 0 1 1 1 5 Tucker lf 5 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 Correa ss 4 1 3 5 1 0 0 2 Gurriel 1b 5 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 Reddick rf 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 Straw cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Maldonado c 3 1 0 0 0 3 11 0 Greinke p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Javier p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paredes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 37 11 14 11 5 7 27 9 FIELDING - DP: 1. Altuve-Gurriel. PB: Maldonado (1). BATTING - HR: Brantley 2 (2,4th inning off Montas 1 on 0 out,5th inning off Wendelken 0 on 0 out); Correa (3,4th inning off Montas 2 on 0 out); Altuve (2,7th inning off Diekman 1 on 2 out). HBP: Maldonado (1,by Diekman). GDP: Correa (1,off Montas); Gurriel (2,off Minor). Team LOB: 8. PITCHING Oakland Athletics IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Montas L(0-1) 3.2 7 5 5 1 3 2 19 Wendelken 0.1 1 2 2 1 0 1 3 Minor 0.2 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 Trivino 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Soria 1 3 2 2 1 0 0 7 Diekman 1 1 2 2 0 2 1 5 McFarland 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 Totals 8 14 11 11 5 7 4 43 Wendelken faced 2 batters in the 5th inning HBP: Diekman (1,Maldonado). Inherited Runners - Scored: Wendelken 2-0; Minor 1-1; Trivino 2-0. Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Greinke 4.2 5 4 4 1 4 2 19 Taylor 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Javier W(1-0) 2.1 3 0 0 0 4 0 11 Paredes 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 Pressly 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 7 Totals 9 11 6 6 2 10 2 40 HBP: Javier (1,Davis). Inherited Runners - Scored: Taylor 1-0; Paredes 2-0. Umpires: HP - Laz Diaz, 1B - Ron Kulpa, 2B - Adrian Johnson, 3B - Tripp Gibson, LF - Ed Hickox, RF - Jerry Meals Time of Game: 3:43 |
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Information for this page was compiled from Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics media sources, the Houston Chronicle, MLB.com and Retrosheet.org. Recaps by Brian McTaggart and Matt Young.