THE HOUSTON ASTROS defeated the New York Yankees 4-0 on Saturday to book a Major League Baseball World Series showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After fending off elimination in game six on Friday, the Astros won the best-of-seven American League Championship Series four-games-to-three to reach the World Series for the second time in club history.
Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve homered for the Astros, who had won the first two games of the series at home before dropping three straight in New York.
Charlie Morton pitched five strong innings for the Astros, who were swept by the Chicago White Sox in their only prior World Series appearance, back in 2005 when they played in the National League.
“So far we have one more series to get the ultimate prize,” said Astros Manager AJ Hinch, whose team opens the World Series in Los Angeles on Tuesday. “But there’s two teams left standing, and I don’t care what cities they’re from, one of them is from Houston.”
Gattis opened the scoring with a solo homer off Yankees starter CC Sabathia in the fourth inning.
Altuve’s homer in the bottom of the fifth sparked a three-run frame against Yankees relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle, who also surrendered a two-run double to Astros catcher — and former Yankee — Brian McCann.
Relief pitcher Lance McCullers pitched the final four innings and kept the Yankees at bay to seal the victory.
“These guys came out throwing strikes, quality strikes,” Hinch said. “They executed a great game plan.”
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Third choice 7 MOM – just saying…
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: Very obvious after Six Nation’s he’s not 3rd choice.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: Shame a 7 from another province didn’t put his hand up…
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: Tommy O’Donnell. Injured. Like Sean O’Brien. Next point?
@Tomás O’Loughlin: who?
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: What a troll. No one had heard even mentioned Leavy 6 months ago. Just because a fantastic player is injured you forget him? Eejit.
Outstanding Easter weekend what a way to end Lent with a Feast of Irish Winners,,,,,,sadly my liver is fecked
james lowe must have worked on his defence, it was immense today
You have to love his enthusiasm – his delight when he scored!
That picture at the top is gold!
@Sam Harms: two great players disappointed at losing a game? What’s your point
@Victor Sonovich: because no one likes Owen Farrell
@Bob Joe: i dont get why. He gets in fights but hes a physical player. Much more likeable then Lawes,Hartley,Marler,Care,Brown
@Bob Joe. I dunno, seems alright to me.
Farrell is very popular amongst his colleagues and most people who’ve met him have nothing but good things to say about him.
leinster where good for their money on the day and held back a big saracens pack which i thought where not so good in defence .but we must be carefull in our defence which nearly went off the rails if only they where more aggresive against scarlets in week or so we can win as they have a stronger team than off form scarlets and will be dirty as usual look at last year one sent of and target sexton many times and other dirt they got away with by the ref in that game we must show them we wont be bullied and we can win with speed and on long ball to keep them in their half .it will be hare to call but as i said if they attack them in power we can win as scarlets will play dirty all day long we cant let them do it as they could be dangerous if we let them away with it .ill go leinster 29 .scarlet 19