HOUSTON - - A terrible beginning by left-hander Framber Valdez put the Astros in rebound mode from the leap Monday evening, and not much one more important day at the plate from slugger Yordan Alvarez was sufficient to safeguard the guarding Worldwide championship champions in Game 2 of the American Association Title Series.
Notwithstanding a couple of homers from Alvarez and a performance homer from Alex Bregman, the Astros couldn't conquer Valdez surrendering five runs in 2 2/3 innings, remembering four for the first, and tumbled to the Officers, 5-4, at Minute Servant Park. The Officers lead the best-of-seven series, 2-0, going to Arlington.
"I believe we're playing a great ball group," Alvarez said. "They're showing that in the end of the season games, and we have nothing else to do except for win in Texas."
The terrible news for the Astros? No group in establishment history has lost the initial two rounds of a season finisher series and progressed. The uplifting news for the Astros? They've won 16 of their last 19 away from home, including a ruling three-game scope of the Officers at Globe Life Field the month before.
"The beneficial thing is we play a little better out and about and we played well at that arena," outfielder Chas McCormick said. "We must win two out of three going around there. It's sink or swim right now, and we must play with some criticalness. We have been playing with desperation, yet we really want to underwrite somewhat more. I don't think we've been profiting by our opportunities to start to lead the pack."
Groups taking a 2-0 lead in all best-of-seven postseason series have proceeded to win that series 75 of multiple times (84%). While 14 groups have mobilized in these circumstances, just two have done as such in the beyond 26 years: the 2020 Dodgers in the NLCS against the Conquers and the 2004 Red Sox against the Yankees in the ALCS (down 3-0).
In series with the ongoing 2-3-2 configuration, 26 of 29 groups (90%) to take Games 1-2 out and about have proceeded to win, with the main three exemptions happening in the Worldwide championship: the 1996 Yankees (versus Conquers), 1986 Mets (versus Red Sox) and 1985 Royals (versus Cardinals).
Alvarez, who missed the pregame enlistments preceding Game 1 since he had an infection, slugged a couple of solo homers - - his second multihomer round of the postseason. His subsequent homer, in the eighth inning off Aroldis Chapman, slice the Texas lead to 5-4, yet the Astros couldn't complete the rebound.
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