Mandatory Credit: Photo by John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock (13479701f) The New York Yankees and Houston Astros are introduced before the start of game one of their American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Alcs Yankees Astros, Houston, Texas, United States – 19 Oct 2022
LIVE UPDATES: ALCS Game 4 Astros vs. Yankees
With the pressure mounting to an all-time high for the Yankees, they had to wait an hour and a half longer to face the Astros in ALCS Game 4 due to a rain delay. Houston’s 3-0 lead allowed them to try and keep playing just like they had so far, while New York needed to search for something new.
Houston Astros (106-56) at New York Yankees (99-63)
The Houston Astros lead the ALCS 3 games to 0 over the New York Yankees.
The Pitching Matchup:
HOU: Lance McCullers Jr. (4-2, 2.27 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)
NYY: Nestor Cortes (12-4, 2.44 ERA, 0.92 WHIP)
The Starting Lineups:
Astros:
2B J. Altuve (.300 28 57)
SS J. Pena (.253 22 63)
LF Y. Alvarez (.306 37 97)
3B A. Bregman (.259 23 93)
RF K. Tucker (.257 30 107)
1B Y. Gurriel (.242 8 53)
DH T. Mancini (.239 18 63)
CF C. McCormick (.245 14 44)
C M. Maldonado (.187 15 45)
Yankees:
CF H. Bader (.250 5 30)
RF A. Judge (.311 62 131)
1B A. Rizzo (.225 32 75)
DH G. Stanton (.211 31 78)
2B G. Torres (.257 24 76)
3B J. Donaldson (.222 15 62)
LF O. Cabrera (.247 6 19)
SS I. Kiner-Falefa (.261 4 48)
C J. Trevino (.248 11 43)
Who’s HOT:
HOU: 1B Yuli Gurriel (11/30 .367 AVG, 2 HR)
HOU: CF Chas McCormick (5/16 .313, 2 HR in the postseason)
NYY: CF Harrison Bader (7/25 .280, 4 HR, .400 OBP in the postseason)
Who’s NOT:
HOU: 2B Jose Altuve is 1/28 this postseason. Did not record a hit in the playoffs until last night’s game.
NYY: UTIL Oswaldo Cabrera (2/24, .083, 1 HR, .120 OBP). The Yankee rookie has not recorded a hit in this series.
Key Stats:
The Yankees are 3-7 in their last ten games, hitting .162 while being outscored by five total runs. The Astros are 9-1 in their last ten, hitting .254 and are outscoring opponents by 22 runs.
Both teams have pitched well recently, however, the Astros hold a significant edge. Houston’s ERA in the last ten games is 1.45 while New York sits at 3.14.
The experience levels for both starting pitchers are very different. Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. will be making his 18th postseason appearance. Yankees starter Nestor Cortes will make just his third appearance, none of which are before this season.
Top 1:
Altuve strikes out looking. 1 out.
The strike three call looked like it could have been a bit outside.
Pena singles to left field. Runner on 1st, 1 out.
Alvarez flies out to left field. 2 outs.
Bregman pops out to shortstop. 3 outs.
0 runs. 1 hit. 0 errors. 1 runner left on. 0-0
Bottom 1:
Bader singles to center field. Runner on 1st, 0 outs.
Judge flies out to right field. 1 out.
Rizzo gets hit by a pitch. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Stanton singles to right center field. Bader scores. Rizzo to 3rd. Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out. 1-0 Yankees
Torres singles to center field. Rizzo scores. Stanton to 2nd. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. 2-0 Yankees
Torres’ hit looked like a routine fly ball to shallow center but got caught in the wind and died in front of two Astros outfielders.
Donaldson strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Cabrera flies out to right field. 3 outs.
2 runs. 3 hits. 0 errors. 2 runners left on. 2-0 Yankees
Top 2:
Tucker walks on a full count. Runner on 1st, 0 outs.
Gurriel pops out to shortstop. 1 out.
Mancini lines out to second. 2 outs.
McCormick strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 1 runner left on. 2-0 Yankees
Bottom 2:
Kiner-Falefa doubles down the right field line. Runner on 2nd, 0 outs.
Trevino pops out to the catcher. 1 out.
Bader grounds out to shortstop. 2 outs.
Judge walks. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 outs.
Rizzo doubles to left field. Kiner-Falefa scores. Judge to 3rd. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, 2 outs. 3-0 Yankees
Stanton strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
1 run. 2 hits. 0 errors. 2 runners left on. 3-0 Yankees
Top 3:
Maldonado walks. Runner on 1st, 0 outs.
Altuve walks on a full count. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 0 outs.
Pena homers to left. Game tied 3-3
Wandy Peralta replaces Nestor Cortes for NYY. Could be due to injury.
Cortes’ final line: 2+ IP, 3 ER, 2 Hits, 2 Ks, 3 BBs
Alvarez doubles to right field. Runner on 2nd, 0 outs.
Bregman flies out to right field. 1 out.
Tucker singles up the middle. Alvarez to 3rd. Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out.
Tucker’s line-drive up the middle hit Peralta in the hand. Needed to be checked by trainers.
Gurriel singles to right field. Alvarez scores. Tucker to 2nd. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. 4-3 Astros
Mancini flies out to right field. 2 outs.
McCormick lines out to shortstop. 3 outs.
4 runs. 4 hits. 0 errors. 2 runners left on. 4-3 Astros
A huge inning for the Astros taking advantage of Nestor Cortes’ rare lack of command.
Bottom 3:
Torres singles to center field. Runner on 1st, 0 outs.
Donaldson strikes out looking. 1 out.
Torres advances to second on a wild pitch. Runner on 2nd, 1 out.
Cabrera grounds out to second. Torres to 3rd. Runner on 3rd, 2 outs.
Kiner-Falefa strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
0 runs. 1 hit. 0 errors. 1 runner left on. 4-3 Astros
Top 4:
Maldonado grounds out to third. 1 out.
Altuve grounds out to second. 2 outs.
Altuve’s groundout was into the shift fielded by Torres standing on the left side of 2nd base.
Pena strikes out looking. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. 4-3 Astros
Bottom 4:
Trevino grounds out to third. 1 out.
Bader singles to center field. Runner on 1st, 1 out.
Judge flies out to deep center field. 2 outs.
Bader advances to second on a passed ball. Runner on 2nd, 2 outs.
Rizzo singles to center field. Bader scores. Runner on 1st, 2 outs. Game tied 4-4
Stanton grounds into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Rizzo out at second. 3 outs.
1 run. 2 hits. 0 errors. 1 runner left on. Game tied 4-4
Top 5:
Alvarez walks on a full count. Runner on 1st, 0 outs.
Jonathan Loaisiga replaces Wandy Peralta for NYY.
Peralta’s final line: 2+ IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 K, 1 BB
Bregman grounds into a 1-6-3 double play. Alvarez out at 2nd. Nobody on, 2 outs.
Bregman’s ground ball ricocheted off the foot of Loaisiga to Kiner-Falefa who stepped on the bag and fired to first.
Tucker grounds out to the pitcher. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. Game tied 4-4
Bottom 5:
Torres strikes out looking. 1 out.
Donaldson pops out to shortstop. 2 outs.
Cabrera strikes out looking. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. Game tied 4-4
Top 6:
Gurriel grounds out to shortstop. 1 out.
Mancini grounds out to the pitcher. 2 outs.
Loaisiga shattered two bats in a row to start the inning.
McCormick grounds out to the pitcher. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. Game tied 4-4
Bottom 6:
Hector Neris replaces Lance McCullers Jr. for HOU.
McCullers’ final line: 5.0 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 8 Hits, 6 Ks, 1 BB
Kiner-Falefa pops out to first. 1 out.
Trevino pops out to second. 2 outs.
Altuve drifted into shallow right to make that play.
Bader homers to left. 5-4 Yankees
This is Bader’s fifth homerun of the postseason.
Judge strikes out looking. 3 outs.
1 run. 1 hit. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. 5-4 Yankees
Top 7:
Maldonado strikes out looking. 1 out.
Altuve singles to the right side of the infield. Runner on 1st, 1 out.
Rizzo fielded the ball deep in the hole and threw quickly to Loaisiga covering but Altuve beats him to the bag. NYY challenges. Call stands. One of the closest plays you will ever see on replay.
Pena reaches on a fielder’s choice to second base. Torres E4. Altuve safe at 2nd. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Alvarez singles to right field. Altuve scores. Pena to third. Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out. Game tied 5-5
Clay Holmes replaces Jonathan Loaisiga for NYY.
Loaisiga’s final line: 2.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 K, 0 BB
Bregman singles to right center. Pena scores. Alvarez to 2nd. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. 6-5 Astros
Tucker grounds out to the pitcher. Alvarez to 3rd. Bregman to 2nd. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, 2 outs.
Gurriel grounds out to third. 3 outs.
2 runs. 3 hits. 1 error. 2 runners left on. 6-5 Astros
Bottom 7:
Bryan Abreu replaces Hector Neris for HOU.
Neris’ final line: 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 1 K, 0 BB
Rizzo grounds out to shortstop. 1 out.
Rizzo’s ground ball was fielded by Pena on the right side of second base.
Stanton flies out to right field. 2 outs.
Torres strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. 6-5 Astros
Top 8:
Mancini strikes out swinging. 1 out.
McCormick pops out to second. 2 outs.
Maldonado strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. 6-5 Astros
Bottom 8:
Rafael Montero replaces Bryan Abreu for HOU.
Abreu’s final line: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 K, 0 BB
Donaldson strikes out looking. 1 out.
Cabrera flies out to left field. 2 outs.
Matt Carpenter pinch hits for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Carpenter grounds out to second. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. 6-5 Astros
Top 9:
Oswald Peraza replaces Matt Carpenter defensively at shortstop.
Altuve singles to right field. Runner on 1st, 0 outs.
Pena bunts into a 1-3-5 double play. 2 outs.
Pena’s bunt fielded by Holmes, throws to 1st retires Pena. Altuve tried stretching to 3rd but was thrown out by Rizzo from 1st.
Alvarez grounds out to shortstop. 3 outs.
0 runs. 1 hit. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. 6-5 Astros
Bottom 9:
Ryan Pressly replaces Rafael Montero for HOU.
Montero’s final line: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 K, 0 BB
Trevino flies out to center field. 1 out.
Bader grounds out to first. 2 outs.
Judge grounds out to the pitcher. 3 outs.
0 runs. 0 hits. 0 errors. 0 runners left on. 6-5 Astros
FINAL: 6-5 Astros
WP: H. Neris
LP: J. Loaisiga
SV: R. Pressly
The Houston Astros sweep the Yankees 4-0 in the ALCS and move on to the World Series.