Astros Take 1-0 Series Lead Over Indians Thanks To Bats
Justin Verlander has made pitching in the postseason look effortless throughout his career.
He took it to yet another level to begin the Houston Astros postseason journey, but needed help getting out of trouble.
The Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-2 on Friday at Minute Maid Park in Game 1 of the ALDS to take a 1-0 series lead.
Justin Verlander (1-0) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his Game 1 start vs the Cleveland Indians on Friday.
He would be unable to finish the sixth inning, surrendering his first hits of the game as well as runs, but he’d be backed by the Astros home run minded bats.
The Houston Astros would blast four home runs in Game 1 of the ALDS vs the Cleveland Indians, using their power to gain a series edge over their opponents.
The no-hitter would be broken up in the sixth inning by Indians catcher Yan Gomes on a single to open the inning.
Verlander would finish the game allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over five and a third innings pitched.
The veteran pitcher would walk second baseman Jose Ramirez with two outs in the first inning before retiring the next 13 Indians batters.
It was a dominant display for the 35 year-old pitcher, and while it ended in a bit of disappointing allowing two earned runs in the sixth inning, Houston boy just what they needed out of him to begin this series vs a dangerous Indians team.
Justin Verlander, who was acquired by the Houston Astros in August last year to help their pitching rotation come playoff time, is no stranger to the theatrics of the MLB postseason.
Thursday marked the 22nd career playoff start for Justin Verlander in his MLB career as he had gone 11-6 with a 3.07 ERA in 21 previous starts.
After a breakout regular-season from one of last season’s postseason heroes, Alex Bregman continued his strong but young postseason career in Game 1 of the ALDS.
The Houston Astros third baseman would stake the defending World Series champions out to a 1-0 lead after he hit a home run off two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in the fourth inning.
Houston would tack on another run in the fourth after Josh Reddick’s RBI single with two outs in the fourth.
The scoring would continue in the fifth inning off a shaky Corey Kluber as George Springer and Jose Altuve would go back-to-back with home run balls to give Houston a 4-0 lead.
Corey Kluber (0-1) would finish the game allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two in four and two-thirds innings.
Cleveland would finally break through offensively in the sixth inning after five innings of not being able to muster a hit vs Houston’s ace.
It was a inning in which Cleveland loaded the bases, coming away with two runs after a wild pitch by reliever Ryan Pressly and a RBI groundout by Jose Ramirez.
The Houston Astros would get both of those runs back in the seventh inning after a home run by catcher Martin Maldonado off reliever Cody Allen to begin the inning and a RBI single by Alex Bregman to make it a 6-2 game.
Terry Francona got a rough performance from Corey Kluber which dating back to the 2016 World Series is his fourth consecutive start in which he got roughed up.
It’s puzzling why Francona would use Trevor Bauer in Game 1 in relief when Bauer was arguably the best Indians starter this season, but if Cleveland can’t score more runs, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching for the Tribe.
They failed to get any production from any hitter in Game 1 as they went 3-for-30 (.100 BA) as a team.
Cleveland went on to be out-hit by the Houston Astros 12-3 and would only get a runner to second base in the sixth inning alone.
The Houston Astros defense of their World Series championship from a season ago is off to a great start after Game 1.
A.J. Hinch’s team got the quality performance out of one of the MLB’s best pitchers of this generation in Justin Verlander.
Behind Verlander’s stellar performance and a offense that completely minimized the impact of a dominant right-hander in Corey Kluber, Houston has set the tone for this series.
They’ll look to take a 2-0 series lead on Saturday when they send Gerrit Cole to the mound against Cleveland Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco.
First pitch at Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 4:37 pm/ET.
What are your thoughts on the Houston Astros Game 1 win? Leave your comments below!