The MLB postseason suffered its first major upset on Tuesday.
All four American League teams were in action, but it was the Baltimore Orioles who had to win the most. Too bad they didn’t come.
The Texas Rangers beat the Orioles 7-1 to complete a three-game sweep and clinch their spot in the ALCS for the first time since 2011. It was the first time the Orioles had won any series this season. Their first 100-plus win season in more than 40 years was complete. The Rangers are the first team to close out their division-round series in the playoffs.
Games 1 and 2 vs. The Rangers offense was relentless on the Orioles. Game 3 started with more to come as the Rangers got on the board right away in the first inning.
It was the second inning when the game slipped away from Baltimore. Mitch Carver hit a two-RBI double to open the scoring, then Adolis Garcia drilled a deep, three-run home run. Just like that, the Rangers went 6-0.
Nathaniel Lowe hit a solo shot in the sixth to keep the Rangers’ lead at six after Gunner Henderson hit an RBI inning to finally get Baltimore on board. From there, the Rangers traveled to the ALCS for the first time since their back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011.
The Rangers will face either the Astros or the Twins in Game 1 starting Sunday.
Javier and Abreu pull the Astros to within one win of the ALCS
The Astros scored early — and this can’t be emphasized enough — as they beat the Twins 9-1 at Target Field on Tuesday. Seven of Houston’s nine runs in Game 3 came on the long ball.
Jose Abreu got the party started early with a first-inning homer to give the Astros a 4-0 lead. Alex Bregman hit a home run to left field in the fifth, Yordon Alvarez hit a home run to right field in the ninth, and Abreu hit his second home run of the afternoon to complete Houston’s scoring.
All six of Alvarez’s hits in the series were for extra bases. He hit three homers between Games 1 and 2, then added two doubles and a home run in Game 3.
Christian Javier singled the at-bats of the Twins – Max Kepler doubled in the first five innings. The pitcher recorded nine strikeouts and pitched out of jams to keep the Twins scoreless in the first, third and fifth innings. Houston can clinch the series and advance to the ALCS with a win in Game 4 on Wednesday.
Yahoo Sports will provide the latest news, scores and updates during Game 3 of the ALDS.
