MAN WITH A PLAN

How Astros manager Dusty Baker plans to attack Twins in Game 4 of ALDS

Astros Chas McCormick, Dusty Baker
Chas McCormick is back in the lineup for Game 4. Composite Getty Image.
Latest report reveals Dusty Baker's bizarre reason for benching one of Astros best players

Coming off a 9-1 win over the Twins in Game 3 of the ALDS, Astros manager Dusty Baker is shaking up his lineup once again. Mauricio Dubon and Yainer Diaz were both in the lineup for Game 3, but won't be starting in Game 4.

Screenshot via: MLB.

Chas McCormick returns to the lineup to play center field, and Yordan Alvarez will DH with Michael Brantley playing left field. Removing Yainer Diaz from the lineup doesn't come as a surprise, he struggled in Game 3 going 0-5 with 4 strikeouts.

On paper, this looks like one of the strongest offensive lineups that the Astros can unleash on Twins starter Joe Ryan (11-10, 4.51 ERA).

For Houston, Jose Urquidy (3-3, 5.29 ERA).will make the start against the Twins. He has a postseason ERA of 3.72 over 12 games.



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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

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.

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