Verlander Ks 11 to lead Astros over Yankees 4-2 in ALCS

HOUSTON — Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six strong innings and Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña all homered to power the Houston Astros past the New York Yankees 4-2 in their AL Championship Series opener Wednesday night.

The Astros are in their sixth consecutive ALCS, looking to reach the World Series for the fourth time in that span, against a New York team in the LCS for the first time since being eliminated by Houston in 2019.

The game was tied 1-all in the sixth when Gurriel connected off reliever Clarke Schmidt on a solo shot to the seats in left field to put Houston on top. Two batters later, McCormick sent a sinker from Schmidt into right field to make it 3-1.

Verlander set a major league record with the eighth double-digit strikeout game of his postseason career and passed Clayton Kershaw (213) to become the all-time leader in strikeouts in the playoffs with 219.

"I thought early we had our chances. I don't think he was real sharp early, but then he kind of dialed it in," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "He started really executing, staying away from trouble. I thought he spun the ball really well."

New York whiffed 17 times in all to only two for the Astros — the largest difference ever in a postseason game.

"They're obviously really dynamic," Boone said. "Outstanding starting pitching, but can shorten the game with the best of 'em. So we've got to find a way to break through against them."

Peña, whose 18th-inning home run completed a sweep of the Mariners in the ALDS, belted a homer off Frankie Montas to start the seventh and extend the lead to 4-1. Montas was pitching for the first time since Sept. 16 because of a shoulder injury that kept him off the Division Series roster.

Anthony Rizzo homered off Rafael Montero with two outs in the eighth to get the Yankees within two. Giancarlo Stanton singled before Josh Donaldson walked, spurring Astros manager Dusty Baker to bring in closer Ryan Pressly.

He struck out Matt Carpenter to end the inning and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get the four-out save.

Carpenter, back recently from a broken foot, fanned all four times up.

After struggling in Game 1 of the ALDS against Seattle, Verlander looked shaky early in this one, giving up a second-inning homer to Harrison Bader that put the Yankees up 1-0. It was Bader's fourth home run in six playoff games — his first four long balls with New York.

But the Astros tied it in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Martín Maldonado.

The Astros had a few days off after eliminating Seattle on Saturday. The Yankees dealt with a quick turnaround after winning a rain-postponed Game 5 over the Guardians at home Tuesday before heading to Houston.

They had runners at second and third with one out in the third after a double by Stanton, but Verlander struck out Donaldson and Carpenter to escape the jam.

Those were the first of six consecutive strikeouts for Verlander, which matched a postseason record. It's the second time he's tied the mark after also fanning six in a row in Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS while pitching for Detroit.

Verlander didn't allow a baserunner after the third inning, retiring his last 11 batters in a row with nine strikeouts. When he struck out Carpenter to end the sixth, he pumped his fist and yelled before trotting off the field to a huge ovation from the mostly orange-clad home crowd.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner and nine-time All-Star allowed three hits and one run in his 32nd postseason start, 11th in a series opener. It was his first playoff win since 2019.

Peña doubled twice before his homer to give him seven hits this postseason. His three extra-base hits equaled a rookie record for a postseason game.

The clutch performance by Peña, who took over for Carlos Correa at shortstop this season, has helped the Astros this October as superstar Jose Altuve has struggled.

"It's everything I've dreamed of," Peña said about his first postseason. "The environment, the fans, the crowd, the preparation that goes into every game. It's fun."

Altuve, a three-time batting champion, went 0 for 3 with a walk to fall to 0 for 19 this postseason.

Stanton played left field with Aaron Hicks out for the rest of the postseason with a sprained knee he sustained in an outfield collision Tuesday. It was Stanton's first appearance in the field since July 21 and his rust showed early when he couldn't grab a fly ball that Peña hit for a double in the first.

New York starter Jameson Taillon walked Yordan Alvarez after that, but Aaron Judge robbed Bregman of a hit and saved at least one run and maybe more when he made a diving catch in right field for the second out of the inning.

Taillon yielded four hits and a run in 4 1/3 innings.

Judge was 0 for 4 with a strikeout after hitting his second home run of the postseason Tuesday.

PETTIS OUT

Astros third base coach Gary Pettis was out because of an illness. First base coach Omar Lopez filled in for Pettis, and quality control coach Dan Firova coached first.

CLEMENS RETURNS

Roger Clemens, who pitched for both the Yankees and Astros in a 24-year career that included a record seven Cy Young Awards, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

He stepped a couple of feet in front of the rubber before throwing a perfect strike to Houston starter Lance McCullers.

"Every time I get out there, he looks further and further (away)," the 60-year-old Clemens said. "So, I'm just glad it made it there."

Asked for a prediction on the series, Clemens didn't give any insight into who he's pulling for this week.

"I think it's going to go to seven games," he said. "And that's it."

UP NEXT

Houston's Framber Valdez (0-0, 3.18 ERA) opposes Luis Severino (0-0, 4.76) when the series continues Thursday night. Valdez allowed four hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings in Game 2 of the ALDS but did not factor in the decision.

Severino also didn't factor in the decision in his last start when he yielded eight hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 win by Cleveland in Game 3 of the Division Series.

 

As ALCS gets started, Yanks-Astros history on everyone's mind

Less than 24 hours after partying like rock stars in the Bronx, the Yankees prepare for a new team in a new city - 1,500 miles away. 

But a long night and lack of sleep is no concern for the Yanks. They are in the ALCS and ready to play. 

"We'll be fine. I mean, that's baseball. We do that all the time. You know, we'll walk in there with some confidence. We know they are a great team and rested and ready. We look forward to the challenge," said Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. 

There is plenty of history between these two teams, and the Yanks have been on the wrong side of it. And it's complicated - the Astros defeated the Bombers in the ALCS in 2017 and 2019. 

It wasn't just losing to the Astros, it was the way the Astros did it. 

In 2020, after an investigation by Major League Baseball, it was confirmed the Astros implemented a complex sign stealing system utilizing cameras and the banging of garbage cans to communicate those signs to their teammates. MLB said it happened during 2017 when the Astros beat the Yanks in seven games and went on to win the World Series. 

The cheating was also proven to happen in 2018, but many believe it carried into 2019, when the Astros ended the Yanks season again. 

Who could forget the image of Jose Altuve after his walk off homer in Game Six. 

Back in 2020, Aaron Judge openly questioned the value of the Astros' 2017 championship. 

"You cheated and you didn't earn it. That's how I feel. It wasn't earned. The way, if you're playing the game right, knowing that we're competing, we're competitors. The biggest thing about competition is laying it all out on the line. Whoever's the better player, better person comes out on top, you just lay it all out there. To know that another team had an advantage, nothing you can guard against, I just don't like that is earned," Judge said at the time. 

By Otis Livingston
 

How to watch tonight

The first pitch is set for 7:37 p.m. ET, and fans can watch all the action on TBS. 

CLICK HERE for a closer look at the postseason schedule.

By CBS New York Team
 

Inside the locker room

Yankees locker room celebrates Game 5 with over Guardians

Hear extended interviews with team leaders as they celebrate their win and set their sights on Houston.

By CBS New York Team
 

"Houston, we're coming after you!"

It was a celebration in the Bronx as the Yankees beat Cleveland in the deciding Game 5 of the American League Division Series. 

Fans filled the streets outside the stadium following last night's victory. The Yankees now advance to the American League Championship Series, which begins tonight in Houston. 

As CBS2's John Dias reported, fans are no doubt waking up this morning still smiling ear to ear. 

The Yankees booked a ticket to the championship series with a 5-1 victory. They just need to keep up this winning trend.

Fans celebrate Yankees win against Guardians

From the fans cheering outside the stadium and taking over the streets, to the team celebrating with champagne on the field, if energy alone could win the ALCS, consider the Yankees already victorious. 

"Houston, we're coming after you!" one fan yelled. 

"We want Houston!" another added. 

"Let's go Yankees!" others cheered. 

After defeating the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, advancing them to the series, the Bronx Bombers are now chasing their 28th World Series championship. 

"Extremely proud. This is a great group of guys that continue to show up every single night. No matter what the outcome is -- not matter if our backs are up against the wall or we're leading the series, these guys came and show out every single day," Aaron Judge said after the game. 

They did just that, with the help of Judge's second inning home run, his fourth in a winner-take-all game. 

Nestor Cortes threw 61 pitches, allowing just three hits, one run and one walk, while striking out two batters. 

"I wasn't trying to strike out the world. I wasn't trying to do anything different," he said. "It feels great to come out on top and lead the team to the CS."

The Yankees now take on the Houston Astros. But as Yankees Manager Aaron Boone says, his team is ready. 

"They believe. They've got so much belief in one another. Plus, we are really talented," said Boone. 

The Yankees have a short turnaround. Game 1 is tonight at 7:37 p.m. in Houston. 

By John Dias
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