Pressly exits game with knee discomfort
All-Star setup man Ryan Pressly exited Game 6 of the American League Championship Series with right knee discomfort after fielding a ground ball that ended the third inning.
Inserted to face Didi Gregorius with the bases loaded and two outs, Pressly induced a first-pitch bouncer up the first-base line. Pressly sprinted to field the dribbler and, as he did, his right leg went limp on the grass. Pressly tagged Gregorius to complete the putout.
He grimaced noticeably as he gingerly walked toward the dugout. Pressly went downstairs into the clubhouse, followed closely by athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall.
“It’s a little sore right now,” Pressly said after the 6-4 win. Just some scar tissue that broke off. Unfortunately it just happened to be on the day that we had a bullpen day. It’s frustrating that it happened today. It was eventually going to happen, I just didn’t know when.”
General manager Jeff Luhnow said that Pressly would have been unavailable to pitch in any situation on Sunday, but exuded optimism that the righthander would be ready for the World Series.
— all key bats in the regular season —
Alvarez is the second-youngest Astros player to ever appear in a postseason game, behind a 21year-old Correa in 2015 and a 22-year-old Richard Hidalgo in 1997. Correa went 7-for-20 with two home runs in the Astros’ ALDS loss to the Royals, while Hidalgo went hitless in a Braves NLDS sweep.
Long night means quick turn around
The Astros and Yankees landed in Houston at nearly the same time — about 3:40 a.m. — and both managers were in communication with each other during their flights.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he and A.J. Hinch texted each other from the plane, letting each other know their starting pitching plans.
Arriving in Houston less than 16 hours from first pitch of meant it was a race to get to a bed and get as much sleep as possible before reporting to Minute Maid Park for Game 6.
“We were just glad we were able to get on the plane last night,” Boone said.
Carlos Correa said there wasn’t much talking — just “people snoring” — on the Astros’ flight after their 4-1 loss.
“I think (a quick turnaround) doesn’t matter in the playoffs,” Correa said. “Playoff pace is different. The adrenaline kicks in and then you forget about it. … With 10 homers and 30 RBIs in his postseason career at the age of 25, Astros shortstop Carlos Correa is the youngest player in MLB history to accumulate 30 postseason RBIs. He bested longtime Astros nemesis Albert Pujols, who had 29 RBIs with the Cardinals before turning 26. … Saturday’s Game 6 marked the eighth time the Astros had a chance to clinch a playoff series at home. They had a 3-4 record in the previous seven games.