Explosive Astros Take Care Of Twins, Advance To ALCS Matchup With Rangers

The Houston Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins in four games to win the ALDS. Following the commanding series victory, the team will advance to the ALCS for a highly anticipated AL West matchup with the Texas Rangers.

Houston won Game 4 behind a stellar outing from starting pitcher Jose Urquidy, who allowed two runs and struck out six in 5.2 innings. Manager Dusty Baker joked after the game that he couldn’t recognize his own starter, who rose to the occasion to eliminate the Twins and end the ALDS.

“In that kind of situation, I think I have big hunger there,” Urquidy said after the game. “Obviously, my focus and my plan to prepare has to be very clear, and I have to put all my mind on it. I feel very comfortable being here with this team … creating a good plan of attack with my catcher.”

Besides a 6-2 loss in Game 2, the reigning World Series champions never appeared unsettled by Minnesota, who advanced to the ALDS after sweeping the sixth-seeded Toronto Blue Jays. Houston survived a late Twins comeback to win 6-4 in Game 1 and dominated in Game 3, when starter Cristian Javier struck out nine Twins’ batters in a 9-1 victory.

Facing elimination in Game 4 Wednesday, the Twins delivered an honest effort and even took a 1-0 lead when star slugger Royce Lewis homered in the bottom of the first. The Astros came right back when Michael Brantley hit his own solo shot in the second, however, and Jose Abreu hit a two-run bomb in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Minnesota scored a run in the sixth but eventually went quietly in a season-ending 3-2 defeat.

Despite losing the series to Houston, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was encouraged by his team’s season and maintains lofty goals for the near future.

“The team is hungry in a way that I don’t think we probably even were before,” Baldelli said after the defeat. “You get a taste of something like this, you show this to people, what this looks like and what it is. We’re not that far from playing in the World Series.”

With the ALDS wrapped up, the Astros will play the Rangers, their archrivals in the AL East. Star pitchers Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez will be available to start Games 1 and 2 at home in Minute Maid Park next week.