Bruce Bochy of the Rangers likes his chances following the Astros’ Game 4 ALCS tying loss.
October 20 (UPI) Despite losing a 2-0 lead to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, manager Bruce Bochy expressed confidence in his team, saying he always likes his chances with the Texas Rangers.
In Game 4 on Thursday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the Astros thrashed the Rangers 10-3.
In Houston, on Sunday and Monday, the Rangers won the first two games of the best-of-seven series. In response, the Astros won the next two games in Arlington, outscoring them 18-8.
“I always like my chances with this club,” Bochy said to the media. “They have fought all year long. We are a solid team when we play. No one anticipated that this would be simple. I have experienced situations like these where we must recover. That is what must be done.
“They’ve performed admirably in this stadium. That is something we must alter. It will all depend on us improving our pitching and adding some runs.
Jose Altuve, the second baseman for the Astros, scored three runs while going 3 for 4. The Astros’ designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and first baseman Jose Abreu each had three RBIs.
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who had two hits, told reporters, “Altuve does such an incredible job of setting the tone for us.” “He is a very tough out and we are lucky to have him on our team.”
Taking advantage of Rangers starter Andrew Heaney right away, the Astros scored five runs in the first five at-bats of Game 4.
Altuve doubled to start the avalanche. Three pitches later, Mauricio Dubon, the center fielder, singled. Next, Bregman hit a two-run triple to center field on a 1-1 fastball that was traveling at 98.8 mph.
Alvarez gave the Astros a 3-0 lead with an RBI single off the following pitch back to center field.
Adolis Garcia, a right fielder for the Rangers, led off the bottom of the second with a home run. Josh Jung, the third baseman, used an RBI sacrifice fly later in the inning to reduce the deficit to one. In the bottom of the third, Corey Seager of the Rangers tied the game with a solo shot that traveled 401 feet.
After answering with a four-run fourth, the Astros never looked back.
In the fifth at-bat of the inning, Alvarez sacrificed a fly for a run, giving the Astros the lead again. In the next at-bat, Abreu followed with a 438-foot, three-run home run.
The Astros led 9-3 after left fielder Chas McCormick added a 392-foot, two-run home run in the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, Alvarez scored the game’s last run with an RBI sacrifice fly.
Over two and a third innings, Astros starter Jose Urquidy gave up five hits and three runs. In the last 6 2/3 innings, the Astros bullpen gave up three hits and no runs.
At Globe Life Field on Friday at 5:07 p.m. EDT, the Rangers will host the Astros in Game 5.
