ALCS Game 1, Yankees vs. Astros: Keuchel continues NY dominance in 2-1 win

The Houston Astros took down the New York Yankees 2-1 in Game 1 of the 2017 ALCS in Houston.

The Houston Astros defeated the New York Yankees in one of the postseason’s best pitching duels. Masahiro Tanaka (6 IP, 2 ER) and Dallas Keuchel (7 IP, 0 ER) dominated batters before Carlos Correa finally broke through and put runs on the board for Houston in the fourth inning. Correa came around to score following his RBI on a Yuli Gurriel hit as the Astros took a 2-0 lead heading into the fifth.

The Yankees got off to a hot start in the fifth when Aaron Judge mashed a two-out pitch to potentially drive in a run. However, Greg Bird was thrown out at home on a bang-bang play and laser throw by left fielder Marwin Gonzalez. Gonzalez’s throw ended the inning and crushed the momentum the Yankees were beginning to build.

Meanwhile Keuchel continued to deal. The Astros ace picked up right where he left off from New York two seasons ago. All in all, he allowed just six baserunners. Strangely enough, the Yankees pitching staff quieted the Astros explosive offense for the most of the night. But in the end, the two runs in the fourth inning were all that mattered. Greg Bird took Ken Giles deep late in the ninth inning, but it was too little too late for the Yankees. The Astros captured a win in Game 1 over the Yankees, 2-1.

Three Stars

1. Dallas Keuchel: Keuchel, as usual, destroyed the New York Yankees. His stat line was phenomenal, to say the least: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K.
2. Carlos Correa: It wasn’s a perfect night for Correa at the plate (1-3, 1 RBI). However, the 23-year-old was responsible for both Astros runs on the night.
3. Jose Altuve: All things considered, Altuve was great on all cylinders. Therefore it only seems fitting that he scored the first run in the fourth.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/919009241091805186

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Next game

The Yankees and Astros face-off again in Game 2 of the ALCS. First pitch is slated for 3:08 p.m. ET on Saturday from Minute Maid Park in Houston. FOX will broadcast Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS as the New York Yankees attempt to even up the series.