ALCS Game 6 recap: Astros ride Verlander again to force Game 7

The Houston Astros stay alive and claim Game 6 of the American League Championship Series with a 7-1 win over the Yankees to force an ALCS Game 7.

The Houston Astros live to play another day with a clutch 7-1 win over the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night in Houston. The series is now tied at three wins each with the Game 7 elimination game to be played on Saturday.

Game 6 was relatively quiet until the bottom of the 5th inning when Brian McCann’s ground-rule double scored Alex Bregman. Jose Altuve added two runs on a single to left field that brought in Evan Gattis and McCann. The Astros ended the inning up 3-0.

It wasn’t until the 8th inning when the Yankees managed to get on the board with a solo homer from Aaron Judge. The Astros answered in the bottom of the 8th with an Altuve solo home run and Bregman’s two-run double that scored Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel. Gattis sent a beautiful sac fly to center to bring in Bregman, and the Astros finished the inning up 7-1.

Justin Verlander gets the win after he dominated on the mound for Houston, going seven scoreless innings and allowing five hits. Luis Severino was strapped with the loss after lasting 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs.

Final

Houston Astros

7

New York Yankees

1

Highlights

Three Stars

Justin Verlander, P, Astros: Verlander pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only five hits and dealing the Yankees eight strikeouts. Verlander’s lights out pitching helped to preserve the Astros’ lead and hold the Yankees at bay.

Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros: With a home run and a two-run single, Altuve extended the Astros’ lead with a three-RBI night that gave Verlander a little breathing room.

George Springer, CF, Astros: The Yankees had a chance to tie the game in the 7th inning with two men on base and the go-ahead run at the plate. Todd Frazier sent a fly ball to deep center that didn’t have enough height to get over the wall. Springer was able to get there to make the catch to keep the Yankees from scoring.

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Next game

Game 7 will take place in Houston at 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on FS1. As of this writing, the Game 7 starters have not been announced. Two possible starters for Houston include Charlie Morton (regular rest) and Lance McCullers (short rest), while the Yankees should go to CC Sabathia for the start with a fairly well rested bullpen to support him.