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The third American League Championship Series (ALCS) matchup between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees in five years began on Wednesday in favor of top-seeded Houston.
Powered by a solid performance on the mound from Cy Young Award frontrunner Justin Verlander, the Astros churned out a 4-2 win over the Yankees at home to go up 1-0 in the series.
The Astros entered its sixth consecutive ALCS with ample rest while the Yankees were 24 hours removed from winning the American League Division Series (ALDS).
“That’s one, boys,” the Astros’ Twitter account declared postgame.
More than a week after an uncharacteristically subpar postseason performance, the 39-year-old Verlander parlayed his second start into a six-inning, 11-strikeout affair.
A report on the Astros’ website said the veteran right-hander earned his first win since Game 1 of the 2019 ALDS, as well as became the second-oldest pitcher in postseason history to tally a double-digit strikeout game, following former Astros hurler Nolan Ryan.
Per the team, Verlander, who was sidelined for two seasons prior to 2022 because of injuries, has eight career double-digit postseason games on his career.
A second inning home run (HR) smashed by the Yankees’ Harrison Bader put the Astros in a short-lived hole.
Catcher Martin Maldonado countered with a runs batted in (RBI) double to tie the game.
As the evening crescendoed, the Astros put on a two-inning dinger clinic as first baseman Yuli Gurriel, centerfielder Chas McCormick and rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña each chipped in a solo shot.
According to an Associated Press (AP) report that was ran by Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, the Astros fell victim to two strikeouts compared to the 17 suffered by the visitors.
Closer Ryan Pressly, who took the bump earlier than usual to help stop the Yankees from tying the game in the eighth, collected the save.
The Astros are 4-2 in their string of ALCS openers, with a 2-1 mark against the Yankees.
Game 2 is on Thursday at 6:37 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.