MLB – Houston Astros rely on Justin Verlander to extend season



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HOUSTON – Wednesday was the Mulligan National Day. And then, could the Houston Astros perform some retouching?

First and foremost, the Astros would probably have liked a mulligan during the controversy over the interference of Joe West's fans. The one who showed pictures of Jeffrey Maier around 1996. The one that was confirmed after an examination that lasted more than three minutes. Whoever deprived Jose Altuve of a two-point circuit that would have tied the score. Even though it was only the bottom of the first run, it looked like a monumental turn in the game (a competition that ended with the Red Sox's victory of … two points ) and in the series.

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But to associate Houston's only loss to the American League League's 8-6 match 4, to blame a sudden 3-1 series deficit for a single lone call past four hours before the final resolution of a memorable marathon a game, although it just would not be fair or accurate.

"It's convenient to think that way," said Astros manager, A.J. Dit Hinch. "But there is still a lot of play. There has been a lot of action in this game. No, I'm not going to go in. But it would have been nice to put the game on par at that time. it's not the difference. "

Well, not that alone. Because there were many other mulligan moments.

With two outs at the top of the sixth and Houston leading to 5-4, the receiver of the Red Sox, Christian Vazquez, scored a wall right in the center, just in front of the panel of 373 feet. George Springer made a good jump and, sprinting from his position in the middle of the field, he seemed about to make an acrobatic strike against the barrier for the final.

But he could not keep the ball and Vazquez finished with a double. Of course, on the next throw of teammate Josh James, in Houston, Jackie Bradley Jr. did everything to put Boston back on top. According to Statcast, Vazquez's double had a probability of success slightly above 50% (55, to be exact). In other words, it was essentially a coin.

If only Springer and the Astros had a mulligan.

In the top of seventh, with one goal and runners on the first and second goals, Rafael Devers of Boston hit the ground keeper to the left of second base. Carlos Correa, who was in the middle, stopped to his left and picked up the ball. Although he could have passed to the second baseman, Marwin Gonzalez, Correa opted for the DIY path, stepping on the bag, then starting with the first for a double play ending the inning. Except that he never really stepped on the bag. Instead, he planted his foot an inch or two.

Alex Bregman shows his frustration after his line coach was caught by Andrew Benintendi of Boston to end the fourth game. Thomas B. Shea / USA TODAY Sports

"I rushed to play double and get out of the way," said Correa after the match. "I could not walk on the bag because I would then have nothing left behind my throw." I was just trying to pat the bag, that was it or just walking on the bag and getting out of it "I felt like that, was all I could do here."

No matter what Correa did – or did not do – the second base umpire, Mark Wegner, realized the day was clear. No double play. No replay. And of course, no mulligan.

With runners at the corners, relieves Ryan Pressly then started walking with Steve Pearce, charging the bases. Then Lance McCullers – who came to replace Pressly – led Brock Holt to win by force and to give Boston a 7-5 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Craig Kimbrel, the menacing of Sox, escaped to score two points. Astros speed rider, Tony Kemp, opened the scoring with a rope in the right-hand line that had doubled the title. Only one person told Mookie Betts. Gold Glover's double-player s' rushed to the finish line and cut the ball, then turned and shot a seed towards the second goal to shoot down Kemp.

Kimbrel then bowed the next hitter, Alex Bregman, who immediately qualified third with a Springer Doubles. Although Bregman scored on a failure against Altuve to reduce to 8-6 in advance, it was hard not to imagine what this rally might have looked like if Kemp had decided to play cautiously by stopping at beginning.

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"I did not like it," said Hinch after the game, a refreshing franchise demonstration in a modern baseball landscape, where throwing players under the bus is almost as unusual as throwing a full match. "Three by three, it's a tough bet, and Mookie is one of the best right-wing players in the game." "He has a strong arm and the game is right in front of him. 39, was a mistake. "

Even though it was the Mulligan National Day, Kemp was unlucky. Bregman, whose lining in the ninth inning, loaded with left-hand bases, seemed to match the score – at a minimum – instead landed in the glove of left-diving field player Andrew Benintendi, ending the match and luring the match. look right. outside of Minute Maid Park.

The good news for the Astros is that Thursday is another day and they do not have the right to play in the fourth match, they have the opportunity to play the fifth game. They also have the opportunity to reduce the ALCS forward to Boston. play instead of two, a chance to return the series to Boston for game 6 and a potential game 7.

Better yet, Houston has the chance to send Justin Verlander on the hill. After five career starts in potential knockout matches, the Aces of the Astros is 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA and he has launched an average of 7⅓ innings, according to ESPN Stats & Information's research. He also launched a combined total of 24 scoreless frames in his last three starts in elimination. In other words, this is precisely the type that Houston wants on the mound – mulligan or not mulligan.

"When Verland is on the mound," said Correa, "we feel like we're winning this game."

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