All eyes shift to these primetime players in Astros, Twins ALDS slugfest
STONE COLD 'STROS
09 October 2023
Coming off a big win behind starter Justin Verlander, the Astros were looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Twins on Sunday. But the Astros bats struggled against Pablo Lopez. The Twins offense got going as well, with Carlos Correa and company knocking Framber Valdez out of the game early.
The Twins would then cruise to a 6-2 victory, evening the series at one game a piece. Next up, the Astros face Sonny Gray in Minnesota, with Cristian Javier taking the mound for Houston.
The Astros are likely going to need a classic Javier performance on the road, as runs should be tough to come by against Gray. Javier has been pretty good over his last several outings, so let's hope that's the case again on Tuesday.
Sweet relief
If Cristian Javier pitches his typical 5 innings on Tuesday, the Astros will have to get plenty of help from their bullpen arms. Hector Neris was knocked around in Game 1, but don't expect that to continue.
He's been nails this season, and the club is going to need him moving forward. He was due for an underwhelming performance after being one of the main reasons the Astros won the division over the last two series of the regular season.
Hitters hit
While Yordan Alvarez has been terrific with 3 home runs in 2 games, the club could use a lift from Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. Both have combined for 2 hits in the series, and things won't get easier against Gray in Game 3.
And hitting the road might be just what the doctored ordered for the Astros. We are fully aware of how much better they are away from Minute Maid, so let's hope that's the case in Minnesota.
Don't miss the video above as we react to the first two games, and discuss what could turn the series on the road.
Watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) every Monday on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel!
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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