Oct 20, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; A general view as the national anthem is played before game two of the ALCS between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Yankees at Houston Astros
The Astros have yet to lose a game this postseason and are now 5-0, as they left the Yankees in the dust after securing a 3-2 Game 2 win last night and a 2-0 series lead in this year’s ALCS in the process. Houston is using a patented Yankees strategy to dominate their counterparts in this series. The plan is simple: hit home runs. Last night, it was Alex Bregman’s three-run shot in the third off Yankees starter Luis Severino that consisted of all three Houston runs on the night.
Yankees pitching was, again, more than good enough to keep New York in this game. Severino battled through five and a third innings pitched, allowing three runs on five hits over that span. The only problem? Houston’s Framber Valdez was much, much better, dicing up the Yankees to the tune of two earned runs via four hits over seven lights out innings.
Aaron Judge flirted with heroism in the eighth when he sent a deep drive to right with a runner on and the Yanks only trailing by one, but it wasn’t New York’s night, and right-fielder Kyle Tucker made sure of that when he denied the eventual A.L. MVP with a leaping catch at the wall.
Now, with their backs tickling the wall, the Yankees breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that home awaits them with open arms. Yankees fans will be out in droves tomorrow for Game 3 at The Stadium, currently set for a 5:07 pm first pitch. New York will be primed to finally get on the board this series, with their ace Gerrit Cole scheduled to toe the slab against his former team. Cole has been the Yankee’s savior on the bump this postseason, already with two dominating wins over the Cleveland Guardians on his ledger. They’ll need every cent of the $324 million man to show up, as their season may very well hang in the balance.
