The Houston Astros are one win away from advancing to the American League Championship Series

The Houston Astros are one win away from advancing to the American League Championship Series.

The Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins 9-1 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Nov. 11 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

After winning Game 1, 6-4, and losing Game 2, 6-2, the Astros took a commanding 2-1 lead with the win. A win in Game 4 on April 12 will advance them to the American League Championship Series. If Houston advances to the league championship series, it will be the seventh straight year since winning the 2017 World Series.

The Houston offense pounded the Minnesota mound for 14 hits and four home runs. Jose Abreu led the way, going 5-for-5 with two doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Jordan Alvarez hit his fourth home run of the series, going 5-for-3 with a double, a home run, one RBI and two runs scored, while Alex Bregman also had a nice day at the plate, going 5-for-2 with a double, one home run, two RBI and one run scored.

Starting pitcher Christian Javier earned the win with five innings of one-run ball, five hits, one walk and nine strikeouts. The bullpen of Hunter Braun (one run in one inning), Brian Abreu (one run in one inning), Phil Meyton (one run in one inning), and Rafael Montero (one run in one inning) preserved the win.

For Minnesota, starter Sonny Gray took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits (two home runs) with one walk and six strikeouts in four innings. The offense was held to three hits.

Houston jumped on Minnesota from the start of the game. In the first inning, leadoff hitter Jose Altuve singled and Jordan Alvarez reached on a throwing error by the first baseman to put runners on second and third. Kyle Tucker led off with a single and Jose Abreu followed with a three-run homer to make it 4-0.

Minnesota had runners on second and third in the bottom of the first when Jorge Polanco singled and Max Kepler doubled. 온라인카지노 But both Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa struck out to end the threat.

Houston had runners on first and second in the top of the second on a Jeremy Peña single and a Martin Maldonado sacrifice bunt. But Altuve struck out and Alex Bregman grounded out to third. In the third, Alvarez led off with a double, but the Tucker-Abreu-Yaner Diaz centerfield lineup couldn’t capitalize.

Minnesota loaded the bases in the bottom of the third when Ryan Jeffers was hit by a pitch and Eduardo Julien drew a walk. But with runners on first and second, the Polanco-Kepler-Lewis lineup went silent.

Houston added a run in the top of the fifth when Bregman hit a solo home run. Alvarez followed with a double and Tucker walked, but neither resulted in a run.

Minnesota had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth with a Willie Castro walk, a Julien walk, and a Polanco walk. But Kepler and Lewis both struck out to end the threat.

Houston had runners on first and third with no outs in the top of the sixth when Peña walked and Maldonado singled. Altuve was retired on a line drive to shortstop, but Bregman followed with an RBI single to make it 6-0.

Minnesota put runners on first and second in the bottom of the sixth after Correa singled and Matt Walner walked. Castro followed with an RBI single to score Minnesota’s first run of the night. However, Jeffers singled to put runners on first and second with no outs.

Houston put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth when Alvarez hit a solo homer and Abreu followed with a two-run shot after Turner walked.