Astros get even with Yankees
HOUSTON: Carlos Correa blasted a walk off home run in the 11th inning on Sunday to lift the Houston Astros to a 3-2 marathon victory over the New York Yankees in Game Two of the ALCS.
The Astros shortstop hit a towering 394-foot opposite field homer off Yankees relief pitcher JA Happ to level the best-of-seven play-off series at one game each.
Correa, who was batting in the leadoff spot in the Astros side of the 11th, capped the almost five-hour contest which saw Houston bounce back from a one-sided 7-0 loss in Game One.
“It was a great game. Two of the best teams out there,” said Correa. “It is all worth it for moments like this.”
Correa also hit an RBI double and made a clutch defensive play earlier in the game.
Game Three is today at Yankee Stadium.
Correa watched the first pitch of the bottom of the 11th sail out the ballpark then cupped his hand to his ear as the crowd of 43,300 at Minute Maid Park went into a frenzy.
Correa said he was happy he got the pitch he was looking for from Happ, who was New York’s ninth pitcher of the game.
“I played against him before and I have been successful going the other way,” he said. “I was looking for something down the middle that I could drive the other way and he threw the perfect pitch for me to do it.”
This is the second time in three years the two powerhouse franchises have grappled in the Major League Baseball postseason. In the 2017 ALCS each team won all their home games with the Astros moving on the World Series where they claimed their first title.
Astros starter Justin Verlander once again stepped up against the Yankees. Verlander threw 6 2/3 solid innings, striking out seven and allowing five hits.
In seven career play-off starts against the Yankees, Verlander is 4-0.