No. 1 home and road clubs battle in pairing of historic proportions
Craig Kimbrel’s command was nonexistent and the New York Yankees threatened to crater an American League Championship Series collision course. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning in front of a raucous Yankee Stadium crowd.
Thrice, the winning run batted against Kimbrel, the Boston Red Sox closer who harnessed no control of his sinister arsenal.
From the comfort of his home, Carlos Correa watched the drama unfold on television. He more than any Astro relished the extra day off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians afforded. Correa still combats back pain. Any extra inactivity is welcomed. So, too, is scouting an upcoming opponent.
“I wanted to see who I was going to face, see the pitchers and see if I could see some tips or something,” Correa said with a smile. “They’re obviously both great teams, but I was hoping we’d face the
Red Sox.”
Kimbrel wiggled from the predicament and Correa’s wish was realized. Two teams who combined to win 211 games will play for the American League pennant, tied for the winningest league championship series in major league history.
Across the six-month season, this matchup of baseball’s two most menacing teams was almost foreseen, even while both combated division races. The Red Sox went a majorleague best 57-24 at home. The Astros countered with the sport’s best road record. It, too, was 57-24.
“It’s very fitting,” said Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. “These two teams have played really well all year long, have been consistent, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
It reconnects Boston manager Alex Cora to his former club while staging a rematch of last season’s American League Division Series. The Astros defeated the Red Sox in four games while Cora sat beside manager A.J. Hinch on the Astros’ bench.
“We feel prepared, we feel talented, we feel that we’ve got options,” Hinch said. “We’ve got different guys who can step up and do well. We have a nice little vibe about us, and it’s grown over the year — I think success helps breed that a little bit more — but you won’t ever use the word panic when it comes to us.”
The teams are not schematically similar — Boston scores a major-league high 5.41 runs per game while the Astros allow a leaguelow 3.30. Familiarity arrives in shared star power and the conviction with which both teams carry themselves.
“Between the guys they have over there, they have Cy Youngs, MVPs, arguably an MVP over there between Mookie (Betts) and J.D. (Martinez) who had tremendous years,” Astros outfielder George Springer said. “That whole lineup over there is as good as it gets. You can look across the scorecard at our team and think the same thing.”
The Astros ravaged a 91win Indians team in three games during the ALDS. They defeated a Cy Young Award winner, struck out Cleveland hitters 30 times and held MVP candidate Jose Ramirez without a hit in 11 at-bats.
Afterward, they sprayed champagne giddily in another team’s stadium while their best player complained the savagery did not air in prime time.
Boston wrecked a visiting ballpark, too. Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blared inside the Red Sox clubhouse for all in the Bronx to hear after Tuesday’s 4-3 win.
“They have the best record in the majors and they’re pretty confident as well,” Correa said. “That was a great matchup for us, and it’s going to be a fun series. They have a great team. (Cora) is over there so it’s just going to be a lot of fun to play baseball and hopefully beat them.”
Added Springer: “This is why we play all those games, to be playing in places like Fenway Park in October. You watch all the highlights and see all the crazy things that happened throughout the history of the game. A lot of it happens there and hopefully our team ends up on top.”