Title: Astros Face Upward Battle in AL Division Series After Game 2 Loss
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Houston — The Houston Astros’ path to winning the American League West was far from easy, and their journey in the AL Division Series has proven to be no different. After clinching their division title on the final day of the season, the defending champions find themselves locked in a tight battle after a Game 2 loss against the Minnesota Twins.
Framber Valdez, the All-Star lefty who spearheaded the Astros’ success in the postseason last year, struggled in his first playoff start since Game 6 of the World Series. He was outpitched by the Twins’ Pablo López, who delivered an impressive seven scoreless innings, leading his team to a 6-2 victory to even the ALDS at one game apiece.
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “I just feel like in the postseason you try to win every pitch of every game and execute. Obviously, we didn’t do that tonight. Tip your hat to Pablo [because] he pitched really well. We didn’t do enough offensively, but we have to regroup.”
History suggests that the team heading home for Games 3 and 4 in a tied Division Series has a higher chance of winning the series, with a 67 percent success rate in such situations. The Astros’ 12-game home winning streak in the ALDS came to an end, and they now head to Minnesota needing one win to secure another game at Minute Maid Park.
Despite the setback, the Astros have shown their prowess on the road this year, boasting a 51-30 record away from home, including a remarkable 14-3 record in their last 17 games. Outfielder Chas McCormick expressed confidence, saying, “It’s going to be a big crowd, it’s going to be loud. They got Sonny Gray on the mound, but we’ve been in this position before. Obviously, it’s the playoffs. It’s going to be back and forth. We just have to go to Minnesota and be ready to play and be ready to hit and put up runs.”
In Game 3, the Astros will call upon Cristian Javier, who has not replicated his brilliance from last season but delivered a solid six scoreless innings in his final regular season appearance. The team is still deciding on the starter for Game 4, with rookies J.P. France or Hunter Brown or veteran José Urquidy being considered.
Catcher Martín Maldonado expressed faith in Javier, recalling his impressive performances in last year’s World Series and his recent success in their final regular season game, stating, “We’ve got Javi, and I feel like Javi, he’s made for big games. We all saw it last year in the World Series, and we all saw what he did in Arizona in the last game. We’ve got one of our best guys going.”
While Valdez struggled against the Twins, the Astros’ inability to contain Carlos Correa also proved costly. The former Astros infielder rose to the occasion and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, showcasing his postseason prowess.
The Astros had difficulty mounting a significant offense, managing to get only one runner past second base until Yordan Alvarez’s eighth-inning home run. With Valdez’s disappointing outing and a less formidable starting rotation compared to last year, the Astros will rely on Javier’s late-season surge in Game 3 and potentially turn to France, Brown, or Urquidy for Game 4. Justin Verlander remains ready for a possible Game 5.
Astros manager Dusty Baker acknowledged the team’s strength on the road but expressed the desire to bring the series back home or secure a victory in Minnesota. He said, “We know we’re a good road team. We’d like to bring it back to the house here or win it there. So that’s our goal, and their goal is to win it there. So we’ll see come Tuesday.”
As the Astros look to regain their winning form, fans eagerly anticipate the continuation of an intense and unpredictable AL Division Series.