American League Divisional Series
Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros
Game 4 was certainly one every Astros and Royals fan will remember for some time now as Kansas City evened the series at two games apiece. Game 4 had the Astros ahead for most of the game, until the Royals rallied late for the win. On the mound for Houston was rookie starting pitcher Lance McCullers. On the season, McCullers pitched 125.2 innings with 129 K’s and a 6-7 record with a 3.22 ERA, very respectable numbers. While for the do-or-die game for Kansas City, Ned Yost handed the ball to young flamethrower Yordano Ventura, who had a 13-8 record while pitching 163.1 innings striking out 156 batters and had an ERA of 4.08.
The defending American League champions rallied for five runs in the top of the 8th inning to pick up the much needed win with the score ending 9-6 in favor of Kansas City. The epic comeback set up Game 5 for Wednesday in Kansas City.
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Houston seemed to be on their way to the American League Championship Series after taking a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh. The Astros were led by rookie superstar Carlos Correa (2 homers, 4 RBI) and rookie pitcher McCullers (6.1 innings pitched, 2 hits, 2 runs, 7 K’s).
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The Royals scored seven unanswered runs to close the game, including Eric Hosmer‘s two-run homer in the ninth. Hosmer finished with two hits and three RBI While Wade Davis allowed one hit and struck out three in the final two innings to seal the victory.
Ventura pitched five innings, giving up three runs on four hits and three walks whiling striking out eight batters. Ryan Madson was the pitcher that came up with the win for the Royals, while giving up two runs on four hits in one inning. Tony Sipp was the unfortunate pitcher who received the loss for the Astros, giving up one unearned run on one hit in just a third of an inning.
Though the Astros lost in an unfortunate way, Correa still played like a superstar, carrying the offense most of the game. Correa hit a solo home run that tied the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the third, a go-ahead RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, and a two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh. With his insane day at the plate it still wasn’t enough to move the Astros to the ALCS.
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Salvador Perez gave the Royals an early lead by hitting an opposite field homer after a Mike Moustakas walk. The homer broke Kansas City’s streak of 22 hitless at-bats with runners on base. Also, Perez’s home run set a record for the franchise for the most home runs by a catcher in the postseason with two.
Carlos Gomez responded during the bottom of the innings, slugging a solo shot of his own. In the 6th inning, pinch runner for the Royals Terrance Gore was initially called safe at third on a steal attempt with two outs. But replay showed he came off the bag while Luis Valbuena applied the tag, and the call was overturned.
Houston responded by exploding for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Jose Altuve led off the frame with a walk before Correa and Colby Rasmus hit back-to-back home runs.
Kansas City answered with five straight singles against relievers Will Harris and Sipp to make it 6-4. With the bases still loaded, Kendrys Morales hit a grounder back up the middle that deflected off Sipp’s glove, then nicked Correa’s glove on its was into center field, allowing two Royals to score.
Luke Gregerson came on and walked Drew Butera to again load the bases, after Sipp collected the first out of the inning. Alex Gordon followed with a groundout to second base to give Kansas City a one-run lead, and the stunned crowd was rendered silent.
That wasn’t it for the Royals though, as Eric Hosmer added two more runs in the 9th inning with his two-run homer, giving them a three run lead.
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Player of the Game: Eric Hosmer
Hosmer went 2-5 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. He had an RBI in the big eighth inning and then hit a two-run home run to seal the game for the Royals.
ALDS Game 5 (Series tied, 2-2)
Houston has the young talent to bounce back after the loss, having Game 1 winner Collin McHugh on the mound for game 5 while the Royals will rely on star veteran Johnny Cueto. The Royals proved that they are never really out of anything, they have that “been there, done that mentality.” Game 5 looks to be must see TV, so baseball lovers all across the states shall not miss it.