MLB playoffs: Tanaka propels Yankees to ALCS Game 5 victory over Astros, 3-2 series lead

E.Jay Zarett

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MLB playoffs: Tanaka propels Yankees to ALCS Game 5 victory over Astros, 3-2 series lead image

Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka shut down the Astros on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the ALCS.

Tanaka surrendered just three hits and struck out eight over seven shutout innings to lead the Yankees to a 5-0 home victory over Houston. With the win, New York takes a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. 

PHILLIPS: Tanaka's big-game history began in high school 

Greg Bird gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second inning, and Aaron Judge drove in a run one inning later with a double. New York tallied two more runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to pull away.

MORE: For Yankees GM Cashman, 'World Series or bust' mentality thing of past

Sporting News provided live updates throughout Wednesday’s game. Here’s how the Yankees came away with the home ALCS Game 5 win:

Astros vs. Yankees: Score, results, highlights of ALCS Game 5

Final Score: New York 5, Houston 0

Bottom of 9th: Following a leadoff strikeout by Kahnle, Carlos Correa ropes a double to right-center. But Yuli Gurriel grounds out to shortstop and Alex Bregman lines out to center, and the Yankees secure the Game 5 victory. 

End of 8th: New York 5, Houston 0

Bottom of 8th: Greg Bird leads off with a walk and advances to third on a pair of groundouts. But he doesn’t come around to score as Brett Gardner strikes out to end the inning. 

Top of 8th: Tommy Kahnle enters in relief of Tanaka and picks up right where Tanaka left off. Kahnle sets down the Astros in order and Houston is down to its final three outs. 

End of 7th: New York 5, Houston 0

Bottom of 7th: Make it 5-0, Yankees. Gary Sanchez blasts a Brad Peacock pitch over the left-field fence for a solo home run to increase New York’s lead. It is Sanchez’s third home run of the postseason. Didi Gregorius follows with a double, but he’s left at second as the next two Yankees hitters strike out and ground out, respectively. 

Top of 7th: Tanaka completes seven innings of shutout baseball. He gets Alex Bregman to fly out and then strikes out the next two hitters to end the frame. Tanaka has allowed three hits and struck out eight while surrendering just one walk. 

End of 6th: New York 4, Houston 0

Bottom of 6th: The Yankees leave two runners in scoring positon. After a strikeout to lead off the frame, Greg Bird works a walk before Todd Frazier lines out to left. With two outs and one on, Chase Headley sends a double to right, putting runners on second and third. Brad Peacock then enters for Houston and strikes out Brett Gardner.

Top of 6th: Tanaka cruises through the sixth. He sets down the Astros 1-2-3 while throwing just 12 pitches. The Yankees head to the bottom of the frame leading by four. 

End of 5th: New York 4, Houston 0

Bottom of 5th: New York adds to its lead and takes a 4-0 advantage. Todd Frazier leads off the inning with a flyout. Chase Headley follows with an infield single and advances to second on a throwing error by Houston third baseman Alex Bregman. Keuchel forces a groundout from Brett Gardner and then walks Judge before Gary Sanchez delivers an RBI double. Didi Gregorius then sneaks a ground ball through the infield to add another run and force Keuchel’s departure. Will Harris enters and gets Aaron Hicks to fly out to end the inning. 

Top of 5th:  Tanaka works out of a jam. After striking out the first hitter in the frame, he allows a single to Marwin Gonzalez and then advances him to second with a wild pitch. Brian McCann then walks. Tanaka, however, follows with strikeouts of George Springer and Josh Reddick. 

End of 4th: New York 2, Houston 0

Bottom of 4th: Hicks pops out and Castro and Bird follow with back-to-back strikeouts to end the fourth. Keuchel has eight strikeouts so far. 

Top of 4th: Tanaka has allowed just two hits through four innings. He sets down the Astros 1-2-3 in the fourth with two groundouts and a strikeout. New York will come to bat leading 2-0. 

End of 3rd: New York 2, Houston 0

Bottom of 3rd: New York adds another run. Chase Headley leads off the inning with a single to center but he’s cut down at second on a nice play by Gurriel, who fields a soft grounder by Gardner and fires to the base in time to get the lead runner. One batter later, Aaron Judge sends a grounder down the third-base line and into the corner and Gardner comes around to score. Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius follow with back-to-back strikeouts, stranding Judge at second. 

Top of 3rd: Tanaka works around a one-out single to keep the Astros scoreless. After George Springer hits a popup to center field that lands in front of Aaron Hicks, Tanaka forces groundouts from the next two hitters. Unrelated: Here’s what happened in the middle of the third:

End of 2nd: New York 1, Houston 0

Bottom of 2nd: The Yankees get on the board first. After the first two batters go down, Starlin Castro ropes a double to left and Greg Bird follows with a single to right, bringing Castro around to score. Todd Frazier strikes out looking to end the inning. 

Top of 2nd:  Yuli Gurriel opens the inning with a double down the left-field line and advances to third on a groundout by Alex Bregman, but he's stranded there. With the infield in, Carlos Beltran grounds out to second and Marwin Gonzalez hits a dribbler back to Tanaka. 

End of 1st: Houston 0, New York 0

Bottom of 1st: Keuchel opens the game with a 1-2-3 inning and throws just 12 pitches. He induces a groundout from Brett Gardner and strikes out Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge.

Top of 1st: Tanaka sets down the first two Astros on a flyout and a groundout. Jose Altuve laces a liner to third base that Todd Frazier can’t handle cleanly; Altuve reaches first on the error. One pitch later, Carlos Correa grounds out to end the frame. 

5:03 p.m.: Here are today’s lineups.

E.Jay Zarett