Alvarez walk-off home run lifts Astros in ALDS opener: 'Found a way'

This time, it was the Houston Astros who embarked on a successful comeback bid. 

Hosting the Seattle Mariners to begin the best-of-five American League Division Series (ALDS), the Astros overcame several deficits in Game 1 on Tuesday to win 8-7 on a Yordan Alvarez walk-off home run (HR). 

Seattle entered its first ALDS since 2001, riding a high from their come-from-behind victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2 of the teams’ Wild Card Series on Saturday.

Cy Young Award frontrunner Justin Verlander’s first postseason start since 2019 was a dud as he surrendered six runs and 10 hits during four innings of work to begin the afternoon, prompting skipper Dusty Baker to dip into his bullpen earlier than expected.

But before he exited the game, the veteran right-hander leapfrogged Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Clayton Kershaw to become the new leader in postseason strikeouts with 208, per a report on the Astros’ website.

Relievers Bryan Abreu, Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown helped lay the groundwork for the rally.

Staring at a 7-3 deficit in the eighth inning, third baseman Alex Bregman smashed a two-shot HR to the Crawford Boxes to bring Houston within two runs.

Pinch hitter David Hensley took a hit by pitch (HBP) in the ninth to set up fellow rookie Jeremy Peña’s single to centerfield, which, in turn, led to Alvarez’s game-winning three-shot missile to right field.

Closer Rafael Montero, a former Mariner, collected the save.

“Found a way,” the Astros said in a postgame tweet.

It’s the six straight time Houston began the ALDS on a winning note.

After a day off on Wednesday, the Astros and the Mariners do battle again in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park on Thursday with first pitch at 2:37 p.m.

Southpaw Framber Valdez, who’s Major League Baseball’s (MLB) new recordholder for quality starts, will take to the hill for Houston.