Verlander brilliant again as Astros force Game 7
HOUSTON — Justin Verlander remained perfect with the Astros, pitching seven shutout innings when the team needed him most, as the Astros extended the AL Championship Series to a decisive Game 7 with a 7-1 vicctory over the Yankees on Friday night.
Acquired in an Aug. 31 trade, Verlander has won all nine outings with the Astros. And with his new club facing elimination in Game 6 against the Yankees, he delivered again.
After striking out 13 in a complete-game victory in Game 2, Verlander threw another gem. The righthander scattered five hits and struck out eight to improve to 9-0 with 67 strikeouts since being traded from the Tigers.
George Springer helped him out of a jam in the seventh, leaping to make a catch at the center-field wall and rob Todd Frazier of extra bases with two on and the Astros leading 3-0.
Game 7 is Saturday night in Houston, with the winner advancing to the World Series against the NL champion Dodgers.
Jose Altuve ignited the offense with a home run and three RBIs. He ended an 0-for-12 slide with a two-run single that made it 3-0 and chased Yankees starter Luis Severino in the fifth before homering off David Robertson in the eighth.
Severino had another abbreviated start and Aaron Judge struck out twice more to match a major-league record for strikeouts in a postseason before hitting a long homer for the Yanks’ only run.
The Yankees will send left-hander CC Sabathia to the mound for Game 7 against Charlie Morton or Lance McCullers Jr.
The Yankees haven’t lost when facing elimination this postseason. After beating the Twins in the win-or-go-home AL wildcard game, the Yanks lost the first two games in the best-of-five AL Division Series against the Indians before winning three straight to advance.