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CLEVELAND – With efficiency and authority.
This is how the Houston Astros faced the Cleveland Indians in a three-game sweep of the American League Division series. After Monday's 11-3 win, the reigning World Series champions now have a few days to play against Boston or the Yankees in the next round.
The Astros dominated the series with the greatest conviction possible. Their pitching staff limited the Indians to 13 hits and a batting average of .144. Their hitters hit .327 with eight runs at home.
The Astros did the best things better; they also did the little things better. Their pitch was suffocating, their ruthless strike. In the third match, they scored 11 points while leaving 12 on goal.
"Our guys have extra equipment," said manager AJ Hinch. "And once we get to the playoffs, it seems like our guys really have activated it."
Houston tied an AHL record with 12 consecutive homeruns since last season. George Springer scored two home runs in the deciding game, giving him seven points in his last seven games in the playoffs.
According to research conducted by Elias Sports, Springer is only the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to achieve this feat, joining Carlos Beltran (2004), Reggie Jackson (1977-1978) and Lou Gehrig (1928). -1932).
Springer was not aware of the statistics as he spoke as his teammates hooted, screamed and sprayed bubbles behind him. The information displayed on the phone screen via a tweet from ESPN Stats & Information, Springer was not flashing.
"I'm going to take it," he says. "These are pretty prestigious names – it's great, but that's what it's all about."
He nodded to the party behind him.
"It's about our team," he said. "It's about the organization, it's about our city, so I'm happy to contribute."
Springer said that he could appreciate this statistic "in 20 years, yes, when I'll be done playing".
It seems weird until the Astros are seen close up. They play together, they play hard and they play well. Jose Altuve said this: "Play one game at a time and stay humble."
"No one wants to be the hero, or everyone wants to be the hero, I do not know which one," said starting pitcher Justin Verlander, a big cigar in his right hand. "Honestly, everyone is in agreement with whoever else is the hero, it's amazing."
The Astros also exploited a problem that the Indians were aware of at the beginning of the playoffs: a leaking enclosure. Manager Terry Francona decided to use Trevor Bauer as a kind of joker. Andrew Miller, who dominated two years ago, struggled in two games (three goals in a third of the heat). Like the former closest, Cody Allen (54.00 ERA after giving six points in one inning). Bauer had two errors in a race on Monday. Cleveland's four best pitchers – Bauer, Miller, Allen and Brad Hand – conceded 11 points in six and a half innings.
"Not much has happened as we hoped for it," Francona said.
"We are launching strikes," said Hinch. "But we are not afraid to ambush you, which creates a little Pitch 1 dilemma for a reliever."
The Houston pitch meant that any mistake made by an Indian pitcher was magnified. Jose Ramirez was 0-in-11 in the series, and Michael Brantley's quartet, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson, and Ramirez were a combined total of 4-by-42 (.095).
No team has yet won the World Series title since the Yankees have won three consecutive victories from 1998 to 2000. The Astros have a slight preference to go forward while They are trying to defend their title.
"The only thing I would like, it's that in series, it's really important to have the home field advantage," Altuve said. . "So, if we could start playing at home, it would be better for us.It is not because I prefer to play with one or the other team, no matter who we play. We're going to go and try to win, I respect the Yankees and Boston, two of the best teams around.
"But if you ask me, I'd like to start at home."
Houston won 103 games during the season, Boston 108 and the Yankees 100. Houston would be home if the Yankees won their series against the Red Sox.
"Our guys have an amazing ability to focus on the day," Hinch said. "Whether it's early spring, in the season when we were pushed by our division, the A's, to enter a playoff series with all the expectations, the target on our backs.
"We are the reigning world champions, and we really have a good ability to show up for the day."
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