George Steinbrenner is rolling in his grave
To start the season, it seemed like both of these clubs were following the same trajectory. A rebuilding process. Growing pains. No playoff appearances. But both overachieved during adversity and faced each other in a one-and-done American League wild card game Tuesday night at Yankees stadium.
Although the two weren’t expected to make it this far at the start of the year, both of their paths couldn’t be going at completely different ways to end the season. And it showed during the Houston Astros 3-0 win against the New York Yankees.
The Astros were too much for the hometown pinstripes, hitting two homeruns against Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka. Colby Rasmus homered to right in the 2nd inning, while Carlos Gomez launched one out of the park to left in the 4th inning. Jose Altuve singled in the 7th to bring in Jonathan Villar and bring the score to 3-0.
New York had one last chance in the 9th as Luke Gregerson took the mound and a lineup of Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann were on deck to bat. Much like the Yankees bats all evening, Beltran and Rodriguez struck out and McCann with the ground out to short to end the game. The entire team was held to only three hits for the game, mustering up absolutely no offense on the night.
Recapping the Yankees at-bats tonight pic.twitter.com/wYWnPBrg2f
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) October 7, 2015
Houston ace Dallas Keuchel may have just been the player of the game for the team, holding the Yankees scoreless through six innings pitched, making that a total of 22 innings through three games this season. He also struck out seven tonight.
The Astros now move on to the American League division series against Kansas City Royals, who hold the best record in the AL and are looking to replicate their run from last season.