Altuve digs even bigger hole for Houston
SAN DIEGO — Joey Wendle hit a goahead, tworun single two batters after another critical error by Jose Altuve, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for a 52 win against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night that moved them one victory shy of the franchise’s second World Series appearance.
Tampa Bay took a 30 lead in the bestofseven AL Championship Series at Petco Park. Towering righty Tyler Glasnow, who grew up north of Los Angeles, will try to deliver the Rays their first pennant in 12 seasons Wednesday night when he opposes Zack Greinke.
Tampa Bay made the World Series in 2008 before losing to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The innovative Rays, managed by former bigleague catcher Kevin Cash, had one of baseball’ s lowest payrolls during the pandemic shortened season and still finished with the AL’s best record at 4020. They often have a different player come up big every night, whether it’s a batter or reliever — sometimes both. They’ve also played spectacular defense.
The Astros got into the postseason with a 2931 record before going 51 to reach the ALCS. But they’ve looked nothing like the team that won the AL pennant two of the past three seasons, and they remain villains in many people’s eyes for their signstealing scandal three years ago en route to a World Series title.
Diego Castillo pitched the ninth for his second save, stranding two baserunners.
The Astros fell apart in the sixth, when the Rays sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs on four hits, two hit batters and Altuve’s error.
Losing pitcher Jose Urquidy held Tampa Bay to two singles through five scoreless innings before Randy Arozarena singled leading off the sixth. Brandon Lowe hit a grounder to Altuve, who went for a routine forceout but shorthopped the throw, and it skipped past shortstop Carlos Correa and into left field.
Enoli Paredes replaced Urquidy, and Yandy Diaz singled to load the bases. Wendle lined a single off third baseman Alex Bregman’s glove to give Tampa Bay a 21 lead.
Manuel Margot, whose threerun homer in Game 2 followed the first of Altuve’s two errors, laid down Tampa Bay’s first sacrifice bunt of the season. Paredes hit Kevin Kiermaier with a pitch to load the bases and then hit Willy Adames with another pitch.
Pinchhitter Hunter Renfroe, who — like Margot — began his career with the San Diego Padres, flared a double into right to bring in two more runs. Renfroe and Margot were traded to the Rays in separate deals last offseason.
Lefthander Ryan Yarbrough pitched into the sixth for the win, holding the Astros to two runs and three hits while striking out five and walking two.
Yarbrough allowed Altuve’s homer in the first inning, his second of the series. Michael Brantley’s homer to left leading off the sixth chased Yarbrough.