Astros Take Game Two Of ALCS Thanks To Correa’s Extra-Inning Heroics

In the 11^th inning last night in Houston, star shortstop Carlos Correa belted a solo shot over the right-field wall to give the Astros the 3-2 in extra innings. With no outs in the inning, Yankees southpaw J.A. Happ served up a cutter that Correa tagged for 394 feet and the ballgame.

From there on, adrenaline carried Correa around the bases. “As soon as I hit it,’’ Correa said, “I knew it was going over the fence. The adrenaline started pumping like crazy. I don’t even know what I did. I’ve got to go watch the video. But I know I was hyped.’’

This Astros win evened up the series at one game apiece after falling to the Bronx Bombers 7-0 in game one. Despite being the favorites coming into the series, the Astros dropped game one after SP Zack Greinke got hit around by the high-powered New York lineup.

In game two, however, the pitching staff of the Astros was instrumental in their victory. After starter Justin Verlander went 6.2 innings allowing just 2 runs while striking out 7, the Houston bullpen combined to toss 4.1 innings, only surrendering one hit and no runs. Reliever Roberto Osuna worked 1.2 innings striking out 2 Yankee batters whilst not surrendering a run nor a hit.

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The Yankees’ bullpen, until the 11^th, was equally as dominant: recording 23 straight outs before Correa’s home run.

Correa, however, has struggled so far this postseason with a hitting line of .136/.136/.182 and 10 strikeouts in 22 plate appearances. The bigger concern has been his ongoing back injury which forced him to lay in the aisle of the airplane on the team flight to St. Petersburg during the ALDS.

Astros’ third baseman, Alex Bregman, however, is not concerned: “He was born for October,” Bregman said.

Similarly, Jose Altuve recounts his pregame conversation with Correa, primed for a breakout night. “He told me before the game,’’ the Astros’ second baseman said, “and he was like, “Josey, I think I’m going to do something big tonight.’ He really did.’’

The series heads back to the Bronx on Tuesday afternoon for game three. Luis Severino will toe the rubber for the Yankees, squaring off against arguably the most dominant ace in baseball this year, Gerrit Cole.

With the series tied 1-1, game three is sure to be one you won’t want to miss.