The Houston Astros punched their ticket to the World Series in what was an epic ending to a heavyweight championship battle against the New York Yankees! José Altuve hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to seal the deal in a 6-4 victory over the Yankees in game six of the ALCS.
It’s the third time in five seasons the Astros have defeated the Yankees to show the world they were not just a one-hit-wonder back in 2017. This Houston Dynasty and their powerhouse lineup of heavy hitters showed just why they were the team to beat this year. An ALCS series full of breakout moments from different players, and the leadership and ingenuity of Manger AJ Hinch at the helm. Altuve summed it up best when he spoke to ESPN. “We’re not going to the World Series because of me,” said Altuve, who was named the ALCS MVP after hitting .348 with two homers. “We’re going to the World Series because of everybody inside of the clubhouse.” The MLB video below shows the excitement of Saturday’s game as the Astros steamrolled through to win the series.
Video: YouTube/MLB
Game six of the ALCS was everything you could imagine in a matchup between the best of the best in a knockdown drag-out fight to the finish. It was a bullpen game from both sides, from the 1st inning with Astros Pitcher Brad Peacock setting the tone and retiring three back-to-back batters to the Astros taking the lead as Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer to Gary Sánchez of the Yankees answering back with an RBI single in the second inning. All the plays in between were also great, like Josh Reddick diving for an epic catch that would halt the Yankees from scoring.
The Astros were just two outs away from winning at the top of the ninth when DJ LeMahieu of the Yankees shattered the lead with a two-run homer that not even George Springer’s spectacular leaping skills could stop and tied the game 4-4 as the crowd was silenced. It was a heartbreaking moment, to say the least, as this Texas Hill Country reporter along with the rest of crowd sat in disbelief at how fast the game really changes.
As the Astros entered the bottom of the ninth inning the stage was set for what will be the most talked-about ending to a fairytale win that continues on to the biggest stage in baseball. Altuve and his powerhouse two-run homer against Yankee pitcher Aroldis Chapman’s slider are the stuff legends are made of. His victory lap around the bases to the welcoming arms of his teammates not only had the players jumping, but the roars of the crowd could probably be heard all the way back to New York!
From the heartwarming embraces between the players to the comradery that exists throughout this organization, it’s clear this is a one-of-kind formula for success that will continue to lead the Astros to victory after victory. The Astros will host Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park against the National League champion Washington Nationals. “We’ve said all along our goal was to win multiple championships,” Astros President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jeff Luhnow said. “We’re not there yet.”
