Astros sweep Yankees, will play Phillies in World Series
NEW YORK — In recent years, it’s almost become an October ritual: Astros top Yankees. Astros take pennant.
Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and Houston advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory Sunday night aided by another defensive gaffe by the Yankees.
Taking advantage of a costly error by second baseman Gleyber Torres to produce the go-ahead rally in the seventh inning, the Astros won their second consecutive pennant and fourth in six years.
Rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña hit a three-run homer off ailing Yankees starter Nestor Cortes to help the AL West champions overcome an early 3-0 deficit. Peña was picked as the ALCS MVP.
“It’s surreal. You dream about this stuff when you’re a kid,†he said. “We’re a step away from the ultimate goal.â€
The Philadelphia Phillies advance to the World Series after defeating the San Diego Padres in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.
Houston opens the World Series at home Friday night against Bryce Harper and the wild-card Philadelphia Phillies, who beat San Diego to close out the best-of-seven NLCS in five games.
It was the first time both pennants were decided on the same day since 1992.
After losing to Atlanta in last year’s World Series, Houston improved to 7-0 in this postseason, earning the fifth pennant in franchise history and another chance at its second championship.
The team’s 2017 title over the Dodgers was tainted by a cheating scandal.
With the playoffs expanded to 12 teams this year, the Phillies became the first club in baseball history to finish third in the standings and still reach the World Series. Philadelphia went 87-75 during the regular season — Bregman and the Astros finished 106-56 under manager Dusty Baker, seven games better than any other American League team.
“These are the greatest guys that I’ve ever been around!†Baker said during the postgame celebration on the field. “They come to play every day — all day.â€
The 73-year-old Baker is headed to his third World Series in 25 seasons as a major league manager, still seeking his first championship as bench boss. He did win as a player with the Dodgers.
“It’s a very exciting time for me and the organization,†Baker said. “These guys have come to expect winning. Winning breeds winning.â€
After racing to a 61-23 record in early July, AL East champion New York was no match for the Astros in October — again. Houston went 9-2 against the Yankees overall this year and has eliminated them from the playoffs four times in the past eight seasons, including in the ALCS in 2017 and 2019.
In fact, New York has lost in its last five trips to the AL Championship Series and hasn’t claimed a pennant since winning its record 27th World Series championship in 2009.
No. 28 has proved most elusive.
“This is as bad as it gets,†manager Aaron Boone said.
Andrew Friedman isn’t ready to say the Dodgers’ front office was responsible for the team’s early postseason exit. And that’s part of the problem.
Back in the leadoff spot, Harrison Bader had three hits and scored three times for New York. He connected off winning pitcher Hector Neris for his fifth home run of these playoffs, giving the Yankees a 5-4 lead in the sixth.
They couldn’t hold it when they absolutely had to.
Peña hit what should have been an inning-ending double-play ball to Torres in the seventh. But his flip to second base went wide of shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa as the crowd of 46,545 groaned, and the Astros had two on.
Alvarez singled home the tying run on the next delivery from losing pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga, and Bregman put Houston ahead with an RBI single off Clay Holmes.
It was the sixth error of this postseason for the Yankees, who also gave the Astros a pivotal gift in Game 3. Chas McCormick hit an early two-run homer off New York ace Gerrit Cole after Bader, a Gold Glove outfielder, dropped a two-out fly when he nearly collided with Aaron Judge in right-center.
Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly shut the door with perfect relief.
Pressly retired Judge on a comebacker for his third save of the series and fourth this postseason, sending the Astros rushing out of the dugout for ecstatic hugs and handshakes on the infield.
Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman are in Dodgers fans’ crosshairs after another early October exit. Why aren’t the players being held responsible?
Moments later, a throng of orange-clad Houston fans chanted “Sweep! Sweep!†behind the team’s third-base dugout in a mostly empty Yankee Stadium.
Handed an early 3-0 lead, Cortes walked No. 9 batter Martin Maldonado to start the third and fell behind 2-1 on slumping Jose Altuve.
Something wasn’t right. Boone and head athletic trainer Tim Lentych went to the mound for a quick check on Cortes, who initially remained in the game.
But he walked Altuve, marking the first time the All-Star left-hander issued consecutive free passes this season. And eight pitches after the mound visit, Peña launched a 3-1 slider into the left-field seats to tie it.
That was it for an ailing Cortes, who exited with a left groin injury that he apparently aggravated. He was sidelined from Aug. 22 through Sept. 7 with a strained left groin.
“We could tell that something was wrong with Nestor because he never throws that many balls,†Baker said. “Usually he has pinpoint control. So that helped us a lot.â€
Alvarez doubled off Wandy Peralta and went to third when Peralta got nailed by Kyle Tucker’s line drive that went for an infield single with one out. Yuli Gurriel bounced an RBI single through an open right side to put Houston ahead 4-3, but Peralta prevented further damage.
Needing a win to extend their season, the Yankees got off to a fast start in the first inning following an 84-minute delay due to a threat of rain. Giancarlo Stanton laced an RBI single off starter Lance McCullers Jr., and Torres blooped a run-scoring single into center.
That ended New York’s scoreless streak at 14 innings. Houston had gone 19 innings without permitting an earned run.
Anthony Rizzo’s two-out RBI double made it 3-0 in the second, but Stanton struck out with runners at second and third. Rizzo also delivered a two-out RBI single that tied it 4-all in the fourth.
McCullers, who closed out the Yankees with 24 straight curveballs in Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS, lasted five innings. He gave up four runs — three earned — and eight hits.
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