The Astros will play their third baseball World Series in the last five years, after beating the Red Sox 5×0 on Friday.
The Houston Astros will play their third baseball World Series in the last five years, after beating the Boston Red Sox 5×0 on Friday and ending the American League Championship Series (4-2).
The Texan team will fight for the title against the winner of the National League Championship Series, in which the Atlanta Braves dominate 3-2 Los Angeles Dodgers.
Outfielder Kyle Tucker was in charge of ending the Red Sox resistance on Friday at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas with a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
Cuban hitter Yordan Álvarez maintained his spectacular moment of form by add seven hits in the last two games of the series, for a total of five of all Red Sox players.
On Friday, Alvarez drove in the opening run for Houston in the bottom of the first inning., with a hit to midfield for shortstop Alex Bregman to score.
A tense pitching duel unfolded over the next four innings, with Boston starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi preventing the Astros from taking off on the scoreboard.
Astros rookie pitcher Luis Garcia was also firm from the mound, giving up just one hit in 5.2 scoreless innings and seven strikeouts.
Houston managed to extend the lead in the sixth inning with a touchdown by Alvarez.
In the eighth it was Tucker’s turn to hit Boston reliever Adam Ottavino’s 95 mph fastball, sending a rocket high into left center field to bring Alvarez and Carlos Correa home.
Ryan Pressly took care of the Red Sox in the top of the ninth inning, quickly eliminating Enrique Hernandez, Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, as the Houston crowd celebrated their qualification to the Major League final.
Third World Series since 2017
The Astros beat the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series, a victory that was later marred by the sign stealing scandal, which led to a $ 5 million fine and the firing of then-coach AJ Hinch and the general manager, Jeff Luhnow.
Houston returned to the World Series in 2019 but fell 4-3 to the Washington Nationals.
Friday’s victory capped the Astros’ comeback in the series against the Red Sox, who went 2-1 ahead.
“Timely pitching, defense and hitting,” coach Dusty Baker said of Houston’s strengths. “And besides, these guys always believed we were going to win. There was never a single doubt in their minds. “
The Texan team will open the World Series on Tuesday, either at Dodger Stadium or hosting the Braves.
“There are four more wins to get,” stressed Baker, who will play his second Fall Classic as coach after 2002, in his time at the head of the San Francisco Giants. (D)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
