(Houston) Rookie Luis García exuded the serenity of a mound pitcher ace as Yordan Alvarez hit everything he saw at bat and the Houston Astros earned another World Series ticket by beating the Red Sox in Boston 5-0 to win the American League Championship Series in six games.
The Astros advance to major league baseball for the fourth time in their history and the second in three seasons. They won the title in 2017, a championship clouded by a cheating scandal, when an investigation showed they were stealing the signals using a video system. In 2019, they returned to the World Series, but lost in seven games to the Washington Nationals.
The team led by manager Dusty Baker will face the winner of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Doders and the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. If the Dodgers win, the series will begin in Los Angeles and if the Braves win, the series will begin in Houston. The Braves lead the series 3-2.
García hadn’t given the Red Sox a hit until the sixth inning. He gave way to a standing ovation after giving Kiké Hernández a triple, with two strikeouts. An impressive performance for the young 24-year-old gunner who had awarded a grand slam in the first round of the second game. He left the match in the second set due to discomfort in his right knee.
On the attack, Alvarez continued his demolition work. The designated hitter hit four hits, including a triple and two doubles. In Game 5, he produced three runs on three hits.
Astros wide receiver Martín Maldonado put on the game’s defensive play by striking out a steal attempt on second base on a third strike, ending the seventh inning with a double play. The locals then led 2-0.
This game killed the strongest threat of the Red Sox who then had runners at the ends. Alternate hitter Kendall Graveman’s strikeout and Alex Verdugo’s second strike put a damper on the visitors’ hopes.
In the next set, Kyle Tucker opened the valves by slamming a three-run homer after two outs.
Ryan Pressly came in to close the books in the ninth inning to take out the Red Sox who only hit two hits in the game.
For manager Dusty Baker, 72, it will be a second World Series appearance after leading the San Francisco Giants to the National League championship in 2002. As a player, Baker was also involved in the October classic three times in the Dodgers uniform, winning the title in 1981.