Yordan Alvarez performs hero once more, hits historic go-ahead blast to elevate Astros to Sport 2 win over Mariners

HOUSTON — Yordan Alvarez and his mighty bat did it but once more, launching a go-ahead, two-run homer within the sixth inning off Seattle ace Luis Castillo that lifted the Houston Astros over the Mariners 4-2 on Thursday for a 2-0 lead within the AL Division Collection.

Alvarez was the Sport 1 hero together with his gut-punch, three-run shot off reigning AL Cy Younger winner Robbie Ray with two outs within the ninth inning that gave the Astros an 8-7 win in a recreation the place they’d trailed by 4.

With Thursday’s residence run, Alvarez grew to become the primary participant in main league postseason historical past to hit a number of profession go-ahead homers within the sixth inning or later when his staff was trailing, and every of his two got here in his final two video games, based on ESPN Stats & Info analysis.

Castillo, acquired from the Reds close to the commerce deadline and coming off 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball in opposition to Toronto within the wild-card spherical, gave up an early residence run to Kyle Tucker however little else as he took a 2-1 lead into the sixth.

However with two outs, Jeremy Peña singled on a blooper that fell in between second baseman Adam Frazier and heart fielder Julio Rodríguez. Castillo bent down and slapped his legs in disappointment as he watched the ball drop in shallow heart.

That introduced up Alvarez, who hit a 98 mph pitch tailing away to the alternative area, into the quick porch in left to place the Astros on high 3-2.

Alvarez, who had 37 homers within the common season, trotted across the bases as cameras panned to his Cuban mother and father, who’re watching their first postseason sequence after arriving in Houston in August. The lefty pointed to them as he reached the plate earlier than reenacting the highly effective swing that has the Astros one win away from their sixth straight AL Championship Collection.

There have been two outs and a runner on first within the eighth when Seattle had absolutely seen sufficient of Alvarez leaving the yard. The Mariners deliberately walked him and Alex Bregman made them pay, including some insurance coverage when he singled to make it 4-2.

Houston starter Framber Valdez had a stable begin, permitting 4 hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He had a distinct look than he did in his final postseason look after he and fellow pitcher Luis Garcia each received hair extensions this season.

Hector Neris received the win after getting the final out of the sixth inning to flee a bases-loaded jam. Bryan Abreu received the primary two outs of the seventh earlier than Rafael Montero got here in and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Ryan Pressly walked the leadoff batter within the ninth earlier than J.P. Crawford lined right into a double play. Rodríguez doubled after that, however Pressly struck out Ty France for the save. The Astros gained regardless of issuing seven walks total.

The Mariners will head again to Seattle for Sport 3 Saturday in an enormous gap within the best-of-five sequence as they host their first playoff recreation in 21 years.

Alvarez has carried the Astros early on this division sequence, shouldering such a load that Houston catcher Martín Maldonado requested Alvarez after Sport 1 if his again was sore as a result of “you carry us as a staff.” The 25-year-old bounced again this postseason after a troublesome time in final 12 months’s World Collection the place he batted simply .100 with no homers and 6 strikeouts.

The slugger who’s been criticized for poor protection previously has been making huge performs in left area, too.

Alvarez grabbed a pointy liner hit by Eugenio Suarez to finish the seventh. In Sport 1, he fielded a single by Suarez within the fourth and threw an ideal strike to Maldonado, who tagged out France on the plate.

Castillo yielded 5 hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

There was one out within the second inning when Tucker hit a slider from Castillo into the seats in proper area to place Houston up 1-0.

Crawford doubled with two outs within the third. However second baseman Jose Altuve made a leaping throw after fielding a pointy grounder hit by Rodríguez that simply beat him to first base to finish the inning.

Suarez walked with one out within the fourth and Mitch Haniger doubled. Carlos Santana then hit a one-hopper that Valdez fielded cleanly towards the third base facet, however his throw residence was offline for an error that allowed Suarez to tie it at 1-all.

Santana was out on the play after getting caught in a rundown. Haniger scored when Dylan Moore singled to place the Mariners up 2-1.

Valdez walked Haniger on a full depend with two outs within the sixth, Santana doubled and Moore drew a stroll to load the bases and chase Valdez. Neris took over and retired Cal Raleigh on a groundout to flee the jam.

The Related Press contributed to this report.