The Seattle Mariners were on the road to gaining the home-field advantage in their American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 1 on 11th October 2022, Tuesday, right up till the Astros did what they seem to do in most games, survive and win.
Yordan Alvarez had other ideas. With his Astros facing a 7-5 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Houston player launched an 0-1 pitch from Robbie Ray into the right-field stands for a 3-run walk-off home run to secure an 8-7 win, leading the Astros to beat the Mariners. The Astros as well as Yordan Alvarez have made history as he has become the first player in playoff history to hit a two-out, walk-off home run with his club trailing by multiple runs.
The Astros have proved time and again why they are incredible as this match has led to 6 straight postseasons and six straight victories in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
When asked about how they persist in matches and against opponents, third baseman Alex Bregman, who is currently in his 6th postseason era stated that it happens in all sorts of different ways. So they know they’re never out of a game and keep persisting.
Bregman kept moving even when he cut a 7-3 Astros deficit in half with a two-run homer in the eighth inning. David Hensley, the 26th man on the roster for this Division Series, kept it going when he was thankfully able to have an eight-pitch at-bat off Mariners closer Paul Sewald, which climaxed in a hit-by-pitch on a full tally.
Justin Verlander however didn’t fare quite so well against the Seattle Mariners as he would have liked. The ace only ended up with four innings, giving up ten hits and six runs. He didn’t look like he had all season long today.
Justin was seen looking frustrated out on the mound and he additionally didn’t seem to have the same command that he usually does. The Seattle batters were able to attack him early on and he was unable to retaliate fast enough in return. Despite this, the Astros managed to score well and went on to win the match.
Fans, however, were not happy with Verlander’s accomplishment in the match though. They were fierce and frantic that the ace came out and threw a dud to start the playoffs for the Astros. Even though he pitched well in the regular season, fans were disappointed that he couldn’t pitch during the playoffs.
Additionally Houston Astros relief pitcher and player Phil Maton will not be able to play during the MLB postseason as he ended up breaking a finger punching a locker.
Maton disclosed on Tuesday, 11th October 2022, that he agonized from a fracture to his right pinkie as he had become frustrated that the Astros’ had ended up losing in their final game of the regular season.
The pitcher Maton ended up receiving surgery on Monday, 10th October 2022, to repair the fractured finger on his pitching hand.
The Astros had already spoken about Maton as well as veteran reliever Will Smith being left off the roster for the AL Division Series against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Maton gave up two hits and two runs in the eighth inning of Houston’s 3-2 win over Philadelphia last week. One of those hits was done by Phil Maton’s brother, Nick Maton.
In his statement on Tuesday, Maton went on to explain that he was upset with how his outing went and that his action was shortsighted and ultimately selfish. He also hopes that it isn’t one of the things that will affect the team moving onwards.
Now we wait for Game 2 to see how the Astros’ performance will fare.
