Houston gets even with New York
HOUSTON — Carlos Correa hit a leadoff home run in the 11th inning and the Houston Astros won a battle of the bullpens, beating the New York Yankees 32 Sunday night to tie the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.
Correa, who earlier hit an RBI double and made a sensational play at shortstop, connected for an oppositefield shot to right off J.A. Happ.
Correa watched the ball sail, then held up one finger as he rounded the bases. As he approached home plate, he tossed his helmet as if shooting a basketball at the crowd of teammates waiting for him.
Game 3 is Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Gerrit Cole, who is 180 in his past 24 starts and led the majors in strikeouts, starts for the Astros against Luis Severino.
“The game of baseball, it’s a beautiful game,” Correa said.
The Yankees tied a League Championship Series record by using nine pitchers. The eight relievers had permitted only one run and two hits with 11 strikeouts before Correa homered, ending a game that took 4 hours, 49 minutes.
Houston’s five relievers combined for 41⁄3 innings of onehit shutout ball after taking over for Justin Verlander.
“Our bullpen was nasty, gave us a chance to win the game,” Correa said.
Gary Sanchez struck out looking to end the Yankees 11th with runners on first and second. The pitch appeared outside — it came right after he swung and missed with two strikes on a play that was ruled a foul ball.
New York lost for the first time this postseason after four wins.
“It was a struggle tonight,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “They’re tough to score runs off, especially on a night when Verlander is out there.”
Aaron Judge hit a tworun homer off Verlander that put the Yankees ahead 21 in the fourth. George Springer tied it in the fifth with a home run on Adam Ottavino’s first pitch.
Correa was sidelined for a while late this year because of back trouble. The AllStar began the day in a 3for22 skid this postseason.
Along with his bat, he made the key play in the field to keep it tied at 2 in the sixth. With runners at first and second, and on the move on a fullcount pitch with two outs, Brett Gardner hit a hard grounder that bounced off second baseman Jose Altuve for a single.
The ball bounded away and Correa quickly retrieved it and threw a strike to catcher Robinson Chirinos, who tagged out the sliding DJ LeMahieu.
“I just tried creeping over and as soon as the ball hit him, I scooped it and he sent him, so I had to gun him down,” Correa said.
Correa hit an RBI double in the second off James Paxton, who lasted just 21⁄3 innings.
Hours later, Correa ended it with his drive off Happ.
“I’ve been successful before going the other way against him,” Correa said. “I was looking for something down the middle that I could drive the other way. He threw a perfect pitch to do it.”