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If there was ever any doubt about Houston going back-to-back, the Astros put it to bed Tuesday night.
Without a shadow of a doubt. pic.twitter.com/Vb8XtrbkCP
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 10, 2023
Houston, We Have No Problem
The Astros put on an offensive masterclass against the Twins by beating the brakes off Minnesota 9-1. Houston is now up 2-1 in this ALDS Series.
As expected, the Astros leading three hitters produced on offense. In five at bats, Jose Altuve put up a run, Alex Bregman scored a home run and brought in two RBI’s and Yordan Alvarez had three hits with a homer. But the story of the game was first baseman José Abreu.
HIS SECOND OF THE NIGHT. pic.twitter.com/9sk46PzVFI
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 10, 2023
The 36-year-old swung and hit for two home runs and put up five RBIs. Last night was his first postseason home run since his time with the White Sox, when Chicago played in the 2020 AL wild-card game against the A’s. Abreu’s three-run homer in the top of the first really set the tone for the rest of the onslaught that would follow.
Here is how the scoring went for the game:
Top of the first: Kyle Tucker finds left field, Altuve goes home. 1-0.
Top of the first: Abreu slings one out for a left side homerun, Tucker and Alvarez score. 4-0.
Top of the fifth: Bregman reopens the scoring by hitting a home run to left field. 5-0.
Top of the sixth: Bregman gets involved again by singling out to center field, brings in Jeremy Peña for a score. 6-0.
Bottom of the sixth: Twin’s Willi Castro finally opens up the drought by hitting a single to right field, Carlos Correa scores. 6-1.
Top of the ninth: Alvarez hits a solo homer. 7-1.
Top of the ninth: Abreu closes out his night with a home run to left field, brings in Tucker as well. 9-1.
Things Looking Gray for Twins
Despite evening up the series to a game-a-piece on Sunday, the momentum heading into Wednesday night’s matchup for the Twins is at an all-time low.
Minnesota came into Game 3 with great confidence, as they had Sonny Gray on the mound. Gray has been striking out hitters left and right all season long with his infamous sweeper pitch. However, the Astros watched the film and now have the Twins scrambling for answers.
Sonny Gray DOES allow home runs pic.twitter.com/o1rfbSf89C
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) October 10, 2023
Gray pitched four innings and gave up eight hits, five runs and four earned runs. However, he did have six strikeouts.
The reason why the Twins are surprised of the result is not because the Astros scored runs, it’s because they scored home runs on someone who never allows it. In the regular season, Gray threw 576 sweepers, and none of them were sent back over the fence. Bu,t as mentioned earlier, the 33-year-old pitcher gave up multiple homers from the sweep.
Up Next
Game 4 between the Astros and the Twins will take place at Target Field Wednesday at 7:07 p.m. with coverage starting right here at 6:30.
Houston will start Jose Urquidy at the mound, and the Twins will look to pitcher Joe Ryan to save Minnesota from elimination.
