The ‘defending champion’ Houston Astros are just one win away from advancing to the American League Championship Series of the Major League Baseball (MLB).
Houston defeated the Minnesota Twins 9-1 in Game 3 of the 2023 MLB American League Division Series (ALDS, 3 wins out of 5) held at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on the 11th 스포츠토토(Korean time).
Houston, who won 6-4 in Game 1 and lost 2-6 in Game 2, won the series with 2 wins and 1 loss.
Houston will advance to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) if it wins either Game 4 on the 12th or Game 5 on the 14th.
On this day, Houston pounded the Minnesota mound from the first inning.
Slugger Jose Altuve got a heavy hit off the opposing team’s starting pitcher, Sonny Gray, and Jordan Alvarez got on base due to an opponent’s error, giving him a chance to get second and third bases with one out.
Houston’s batting lineup focused on Gray, who was beginning to falter. Kyle Tucker scored the first run with a timely hit to left.
It wasn’t the end. In the ensuing opportunity with one out and runners on first and third base, Jose Abreu exploded with a three-run home run to the left that flew over the left field wall, immediately taking the lead 4-0.
Houston scored with a long hit in the 5th inning. Alex Bregman hit a left-field solo home run against Gray, increasing the lead to 5-0.
In the 6th inning, Bregman hit a sacrifice hit on 1st and 3rd base with one out and one out, scoring one more run.
Houston gave up one run in the bottom of the sixth, but scored three runs in the top of the ninth to easily tie the game.
Alvarez delivered a solo home run, and Abreu celebrated with a two-run home run in the middle of the month.
Abreu played well on this day with 2 hits in 5 at-bats, 5 RBIs, and 2 runs scored, including 2 home runs.
Houston starting pitcher Christian Javier became the winning pitcher by tying up the opponent’s batting line with 1 hit, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts, and no runs in 5 innings. (yunhap news)