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ALCS Game 4 final score: Yankees 6, Astros 4
(Series tied 2-2)
The Yankees came roaring back in the late innings Tuesday to beat the Astros in Game 4 of the ALCS, tying the series 2-2 and giving themselves a chance to take the lead Wednesday in Game 5.
What was a fairly ho-hum pitchers' duel for the first five innings became an offensive showcase late, as both teams traded multi-run innings, with the Yankees eventually pulling ahead with a four-run eighth against the Houston bullpen. There were heroes and highlights aplenty for both teams, and now the series takes on a whole new life.
For a full recap of Game 4, scroll to the bottom.
*****
8:46 p.m.: Evan Gattis, pinch-hitting for Beltran, flies out to left to end the game. Yankees win 6-4.
8:45 p.m.: Bregman strikes out swinging.
8:42 p.m.: Gurriel strikes out swinging.
Aroldis Chapman in to pitch for the Yankees.
Top of the ninth
*****
8:38 p.m.: Frazier grounds out to third on a nice play by Bregman. On to the ninth.
8:34 p.m.: Hicks ground into a fielder's choice, 3-2, to force Sanchez at the plate. Two outs. Here's Frazier. The Yankees have batted around.
8:31 p.m.: Castro walks to load the bases. This inning — and game — have completely fallen apart for the Astros.
8:24 p.m.: Astros intentionally walk Bird. That's all for Giles. Luke Gregerson on to pitch. Still just one out. Meanwhile, Aroldis Chapman is getting ready in the Yankees' bullpen.
8:23 p.m.: Wih Gregorius running, Sanchez lines a double into the right-center gap. Two runs score. Yankees lead 6-4.
8:21 p.m.: Gregorius sneaks one throug the left side of the infield for a hit, moving Judge to third. Yankees in great shape to take the lead.
8:19 p.m.: Judge doubles off the left-field wall, scoring Headley. Tie game, 4-4. Replay shows fan touched the ball before it hit the wall, but woudn't have changed the outcome of the play.
8:14 p.m.: Gardner grounds out to second, scoring Frazier from third. Headley moves to third. It's 4-3.
8:08 p.m.: Headley lines a single to left-center. Frazier goes to third. Headley slips going around first, draws a throw and juuuust makes it in to second. The Yankees are in great shape. Astros challenge the call at second. Umps say he's safe. New York has second and third with nobody out. Musgrove exits, as Astros bring in their closer, Ken Giles.
8:04 p.m.: Frazier lines a single into left. Tying run up again. Chase Headley will pinch hit for Romine, which means Sanchez will become the catcher, which means the Yankees lose the DH. But Yankees aren't going away.
Bottom of the eighth (Astros 4, Yankees 2)
*****
8 p.m.: Green fans Correa to get the Astros 1-2-3. Back come to Yankees to pick up the bats. The drama is getting real.
Top of the eighth (Astros 4, Yankees 2)
*****
7:53 p.m.: Hicks flies out to right to end the threat. But things are definitely more interesting.
7:51 p.m.: Castro grounds out to third for the second out. Bird to second.
7:46 p.m.: Greg Bird walks. Tying run at the plate. That's all for Devenski. Joe Musgrove on to pitch.
7:44 p.m.: Sanchez hits a sac fly to deep right, scoring Gregorius. Yankees are making it a game. 4-2.
7:40 p.m.: Gregorius triples to left center. Yankees trying claw their way back in. Crowd is back into it.
Aaron Judge's home run went far. #Yankees #AllRise 👨⚖️ https://t.co/wTsXcITYXz
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) October 17, 2017
7:36 p.m.: All rise, people. Aaron Judge hits a monster homer to center. Estimated distance: 4,000 feet. 4-1 Astros. That's all for McCullers, who allowed just two hits. Chris Devenski on to pitch for Houston.
Bottom of the seventh (Astros 4, Yankees 0)
*****
7:30 p.m.: Springer grounds into a double play 5-4-3 to end the inning.
7:28 p.m.: McCann grounds to Castro, who boots it for his second error of the game. Gonzalez scores from second. 4-0 Astros.
7:26 p.m.: Marwin Gonzalez doubles into the right-center gap with one out.
Chad Green on to pitch for the Yankees.
Top of the seventh (Astros 3, Yankees 0)
*****
7:19 p.m.: Gardner grounds out to Altuve at second. A shut-down inning for McCullers, who's been impressive.
7:16 p.m.: Austin Romine grounds out to third.
7:15 p.m.: Frazier strikes out swinging. That's No. 3 for McCullers, who's allowed just one hit.
Bottom of the sixth (Astros 3, Yankees 0)
*****
7:10 p.m.: Bregman grounds out to third to end the inning. Huge inning for the Astros.
7:09 p.m.: Gurriel doubles sharply down the third-base line, clearing the bases. 3-0 Astros. Yankees tag Gurriel out between second and third. Bases empty, but damage is done.
7:07 p.m.: Correa strikes out swinging on a breaking ball in the dirt. No runs yet. Now Yankees can escape with a double play.
7:03 p.m.: Altuve walks and the Astros have the bases loaded with nobody out. Run expectancy: high.
6:55 p.m. Josh Reddick reaches on catcher's interference, which, for some reason, keeps happening in the postseason. Astros are rallying, and that's all for Gray. David Robertson comes in to pitch for the Yankees.
6:51 p.m.: George Springer walks to lead off the inning. Maybe this will be the inning when someone scores.
Top of the sixth (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
6:47 p.m.: McCullers gets Aaron Hicks to ground out to third to end the inning. Yankees get a walk, but he's erased on a double play. Still no score. Is this pitchers' duel exciting or boring? I can't decide.
Bottom of the fifth (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
6:37 p.m.: Gray gets Brian McCann looking, his second strikeout of the inning, to retire the side in another 1-2-3 frame. Gray is dealing this evening.
Top of the fifth (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
6:25 p.m.: Sanchez pops one into shallow right for an out. Judge, running on the play, goes too far and appears to not beat the throw back at first. Ump says he's out, but replay shows he's safe. But, turns out, Judge never re-touched second on his way back. Astros try to appeal to second, but Judge tries to steal second before they can do it, forcing the Astros to make a play in hopes they'd throw it away or balk, which would've by rule negated the appeal. But they tag him out and the inning is over. Got all that? Baseball is weird.
6:21 p.m.: Judge walks. Way to up that OBP, Aaron!
Bottom of the fourth (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
6:16 p.m.: Gray gets Bregman to fly out to Judge in right to end the inning. Astros waste a scoring chance. Sometimes when teams reject those gifts, the postseason can be cruel.
6:13 p.m.: A wild pitch to Yuli Gurriel sends Correa to second, then Gurriel strikes out. Astros having trouble taking advantage of gifts.
6:11 p.m.: Carlos Correa hits it right to Castro, who has the ball go right through his legs for an error. Small things can end up being huge in the postseason.
6:10 p.m.: Jose Altuve strikes out swinging to start the inning. Yankees doing a good job of neutralizing him so far in Games 3 and 4.
Top of the fourth (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
6:04 p.m.: Brett Gardner grounds out to second to end the inning, stranding Frazier, who had advanced to second. Neither team can get anything going.
6 p.m.: Todd Frazier bloops a single just beyond Altuve at second.
Bottom of the third (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
5:53 p.m.: Josh Reddick grounds into a double play with one out to end the inning.
5:50 p.m.: Brian McCann gets hit by a pitch on the right shoulder. Probably unpleasant.
Top of the third (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
5:46 p.m.: Starlin Castro grounds out to short to end the inning. Nothin' doin' for the Yankees. Another 1-2-3- frame for McCullers. This game seems to be somewhat offense-challenged in the early going.
Bottom of the second (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
5:38 p.m.: Marwin Gonzalez flies out to left to end the inning and strand Beltran at second.
5:36 p.m.: Postseason veteran Carlos Beltran doubles into the right-field corner with two outs.
Top of the second (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
The strikeout of Judge is part of a 1-2-3 inning for McCullers.
5:23 p.m.: Aaron Judge strikes out for the 22nd time in the postseason. He's inching ever closer to Alfonso Soriano, who holds the all-time record of 26. Speaking of bad all-time records, you should read this list I put together. I'm fond of it. Classic baseball infotainment.
#Astros Lance McCullers Jr. will pay tribute to his friend Jose Fernandez when he starts Game 4 of the ALCS today. #JDF16 #Marlins pic.twitter.com/QJx4n4x5di
— Glenn Geffner (@GlennGeffner) October 17, 2017
Lance McCullers Jr. on the mound for the Astros.
Bottom of the first (Astros 0, Yankees 0)
*****
Jose Altuve draws a walk with two outs, but the Astros strand him at first. Up come the Yankees.
5:10 p.m.: George Springer grounds out to short to start the game, scattering a bunch of birds, who are apparently unaware of the early start time. An odd sight.
Sonny Gray on the mound for the Yankees.
Top of the first
*****
It's time for more playoff baseball, this time while the sun's out! Well, for a little while, at least.
The Astros and Yankees are set to face off in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series from Yankee Stadium. It's a matchup that could go a long way toward defining the series. If the Astros win, they'll be up 3-1 and poised to head to the franchise's second World Series. A Yankees win ties the series and puts the psychological advantage back with New York, giving the team a chance to grab control in Game 5 on Wednesday.
The Yankees are coming off an 8-1 win in Game 3, thanks to strong pitching from veteran CC Sabathia and heroics offensive from Todd Frazier and Aaron Judge. The potent Houston offense was held a bay Monday night, so it'll be interesting to see whether the 'Stros can bounce back today. On a related note, the Astros haven't lost back-to-back games in more than a month.
Late-afternoon baseball, folks. Catch the fever!
