Yordan Alvarez hits 3-run walk-off HR as Astros win Game 1

Houston — The Houston Astros’ Yordan Lvarez’s walk-off home run, which capped a thrilling comeback victory in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday, brought to mind memorable October moments.

It sounded as fierce and fast as Albert Pujols’ laser off Brad Lidge in 2005, another postseason home run at Minute Maid Park. Since Joe Carter’s home run that gave Toronto the 1993 World Series victory, it had been a while since a team that was down had scored the game-winning shot. Although the Astros’ 8-7 triumph over the Seattle Mariners came so early in the postseason that it won’t go down in history, the 41,125 spectators and those in both clubhouses — jubilant on one side, stunned mute on the other — couldn’t help but be in awe of Alvarez’s accomplishment.

The Mariners, who are playing in the postseason for the first time in 20 years, lost a lead similar to the one they overcame in their victory against Toronto on Saturday to secure the wild card. Alex Bregman’s two-run home run in the eighth inning helped Houston overturn a 7-3 deficit, and the Astros went on to win their ninth straight postseason game, tying a major league record.

I don’t know what to say if you’re a fan of Houston if it didn’t get you fired up, thrilled, or passionate. “These are the minor nuances, but I was also telling my wife about someone who wasn’t having a good day until that moment altered it. Such items have the power to alter someone’s entire day.”

As enthusiastic as the Astros and fans were, one 93 mph sinker over the heart of the plate turned Seattle’s day around for the worst. The Mariners manager Scott Servais summoned on left-hander Robbie Ray to face likewise left-handed Alvarez after closer Paul Sewald allowed two bases to reach. Normally a starter, Ray, the current AL Cy Young Award winner, signed a $115 million free agent contract with Seattle last winter. However, Seattle intended to utilize him in a fireman position in Game 1.

As enthusiastic as the Astros and fans were, one 93 mph sinker over the heart of the plate turned Seattle’s day around for the worst. The Mariners manager Scott Servais summoned on left-hander Robbie Ray to face likewise left-handed Alvarez after closer Paul Sewald allowed two bases to reach. Normally a starter, Ray, the current AL Cy Young Award winner, signed a $115 million free agent contract with Seattle last winter. However, Seattle intended to utilize him in a fireman position in Game 1.

Ray explained, “I was simply trying to get the sinker in on him. “just did not arrive. Just annoying.”

Ray said that he never thought about loading the bases and throwing around Alvarez. Sewald lost Jeremy Pena by leaving a 1-2 slider over the plate, which the rookie smacked into center field, then hit pinch-hitter, David Hensley, with a full-count fastball, which put the Mariners in a hazardous situation. Alvarez then appeared.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve remarked, “He didn’t miss it.” “He’s simply a fantastic hitter. He will not miss twice.”

With his drive to left field at Minute Maid off New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, Altuve won the 2019 pennant, but even it was a tie game. He is familiar with the thrill of hitting a walk-off home run in the playoffs. With two outs in the ninth inning and the score down by several runs, a walk-off home run in the postseason? Never occurred before Tuesday.

Of course, they didn’t anticipate that ace Justin Verlander, the likely AL Cy Young winner this season, would give up six runs on ten hits in four innings to open their postseason. With a two-run home run from J.P. Crawford and the Mariners’ top two hitters, Julio Rodriguez and Ty France, going 5 for their first 5, Seattle jumped on him for a run in the first, three in the second, and two in the fourth.

Houston’s bullpen mostly silenced Seattle, paving the way for Astros batters to happily walk. In the fourth, Yuli Gurriel hit a home run to reduce the margin to 6-3. In the eighth, Bregman performed his job well. Moreover, when he noticed Ray warming up, Alvarez grabbed an iPad, watched a film of his five prior at-bats against the 31-year-old, and attempted to duplicate his regular season performance, in which he hit.306/.406/.613 in 136 games.

Astros manager Dusty Baker stated that “the postseason is simply an extension of the season.” “He certainly has a very sluggish heartbeat. He doesn’t display a lot of eagerness. He is extremely focused, disciplined, and self-assured. When Yordan steps up to the bat, you feel you have a shot, but when he doesn’t deliver, you’re nearly shocked. He’s quite excellent at it, but you know, nobody can do it all the time.”

decent undersells Álvarez. He gave the Astros the early lead in the third inning with a two-run double before scoring their last run on a sinker that didn’t go in when it was meant to, foiling Seattle’s first attempt to seize the home-field edge it had in its grasp. Luis Castillo, the Mariners’ prized deadline acquisition, will take against Houston left-hander Framber Valdez in Game 2 on Thursday, giving them another opportunity.

According to Servais, “it’s like a heavyweight bout.” “You’re going to take a blow. The difficult part is how you react under those circumstances. I believed we had things under control today. They must be given credit. They have undoubtedly encountered this situation several times before, yet you persist.”