LOOKING AHEAD
Astros wrap up AL West; look ahead to Cleveland series
SportsMap Staff
Sep 26, 2018, 8:43 am
The Astros and Justin Verlander are set to begin their World Series defense. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
It was pretty much a foregone conclusion after the weekend, but the Astros wrapped up a second consecutive AL West title with a 4-1 win over Toronto coupled with Oakland's 10-8 loss to Seattle.
The Astros won their 100th game of the season, and with five games left, could break the franchise record of 102 wins. The defending World Series champions have one more game in Toronto today before finishing with four against lowly Baltimore.
The clinching also means the playoffs are set, with Houston opening against Cleveland in a best of five that starts Oct. 5 at Minute Maid Park. Boston will play the winner of the one-game wild card between New York and Oakland. The only thing left to determine is where that game is played; the Yankees lead by 2.5 games.
The divisional series playoff schedule for the Astros:
Friday, Oct. 5 Game 1 Cleveland at Houston
Saturday, Oct. 6 Game 2 Cleveland at Houston
Monday, Oct. 8 Game 3 Houston at Cleveland
Tuesday, Oct. 9 Game 4 *Houston at Cleveland
Thursday, Oct. 11 Game 5 *Cleveland at Houston
*-if necessary
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.