Baseball: Judge gets Yankees back in ALCS in 8-1 rout

Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer and made two outstanding catches in right field as the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros, 8-1, in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Monday.

The Astros lead the series, 2-1, heading into Game 4 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.


Judge ensured Houston would not be going for the sweep by producing one of his best games of the postseason. He drew a walk in the third inning off Charlie Morton (0-1) and homered off Will Harris to highlight a five-run fourth.

In between plate appearances, Judge made a leaping catch at the base of the right field wall in the fourth to rob Yuli Gurriel of at least an extra-base hit and possibly a homer.

After homering, Judge raced in to make a diving catch on Cameron Maybin for the first out of the fifth.

Todd Frazier hit a three-run homer, Chase Headley had a run-scoring infield single and Frazier scored on a wild pitch as the Yankees snapped a seven-game losing streak in the ALCS.

CC Sabathia (1-0) allowed three hits in six scoreless innings and improved to 10-0 this season following a New York loss.

Morton allowed seven runs and six hits in 3-2/3 innings.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa were a combined 1-for-8, though Houston scored their lone run on a bases-loaded walk by Alex Bregman in the ninth.

In the second inning, following an infield single by Starlin Castro and a base hit by Aaron Hicks, Frazier hit a 2-2 fastball well into the right field seats.

The Astros threatened with two outs in the third by loading the bases on two walks and a single. Sabathia only needed two pitches to retire Correa on a soft popup.

Judge then made his leap in the fourth to catch Gurriel's fly ball.

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Correa powers Astros to win over Yankees

LOS ANGELES -- Carlos Correa homered and delivered a walk-off double for the Houston Astros in a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees in baseball's American League Championship Series on Saturday.

The Astros second straight home victory gave them a 2-0 lead over the Yankees in the best-of-seven matchup that will send one team to the World Series.


Correa's ninth-inning effort ensured the Astros capitalized on a stellar performance from starting pitcher Justin Verlander.

Correa smacked a 3-ball, 2-strike fastball from Aroldis Chapman into the right center-field gap to score Jose Altuve from first base.

Altuve raced around the bases, scoring when Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge made his relay throw toward the middle of the infield and the subsequent throw to home didn't make it to Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez in time.

Verlander worked nine innings, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts.

He threw 124 pitches -- 93 of them for strikes -- and held off the Yankees to give the Astros a chance to rally.

Both teams put runs on the board in odd ways.

Houston struck first off Yankees' right-handed hurler Luis Severino with one out in the fourth.

Correa turned around a 99-mph (159.33 Km/h) fastball from Severino for an opposite-field home run to right field.

The ball just eluded an outstretched Judge, and a young fan in the first row of outfield seats deflected it into the stands.

Officials reviewed the play to check for fan interference, but the run stood.

The Astros' lead was short-lived. With two outs in the fifth, Verlander gave up back-to-back doubles to Aaron Hicks and Todd Frazier.

Frazier's caught in the fence fronting the wall in left-centerfield and Hicks scored on a ground-rule double.

The series shifts to New York for game three on Monday. The series winner will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or reigning champion Chicago Cubs in the World Series.

The Dodgers, who led the Major League Baseball with 104 regular-season wins, hosted game one of the National League Championship Series on Saturday with payback on their minds.

The Cubs ousted them in six games in the NLCS last season and went on to end a 108-year World Series title drought.

The Dodgers swept the Arizona Cardinals in the division series, while the Cubs are coming off a wild 9-8 series-clinching victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

That game lasted four hours and 37 minutes -- the longest nine-inning game in post-season history. To top it off, the Cubs' flight from Washington to Los Angeles was diverted when a passenger fell ill.

Manager Joe Maddon didn't announce left-hander Jose Quintana as his starting pitcher until Saturday morning, after the Cubs used all four of their primary starting hurlers in the last two games against the Nationals.

Clayton Kershaw was scheduled to start for the Dodgers, who left All-Star shortstop Corey Seager off their 25-man roster for the series because of a back injury.

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Indians' AL record win streak halted at 22 games

WASHINGTON - The Cleveland Indians' historic winning streak was halted at 22 games on Friday as they fell 4-3 to the Kansas City Royals.

A day after the Indians rallied in the ninth inning en route to a 10th-inning walkoff win over the Royals to keep the streak alive, they were unable to come up with another great escape, and baseball's longest win streak in more than a century ended.

Before a packed house of appreciative home fans in Cleveland, the Indians lost for the first time since August 23.

Their 22 straight triumphs set an American League record -- surpassing the previous AL mark of 20 straight established by the Oakland Athletics in 2002.

Cleveland surpassed the 21-game streak put together by National League's Chicago Cubs in 1935 -- but came up short in pursuit of the Major League record 26-game winning streak of the 1916 New York Giants.

"Common sense says you're eventually going to lose a game. It was a lot of fun," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Lorenzo Cain had three hits and Alicides Escobar and Brandon Moss hit home runs for the Royals off Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer.

The Indians' Francisco Lindor struck out with a runner on first with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to end it -- sparking a massive ovation from Cleveland fans in appreciation of the three-week ride.

Indians players and Francona emerged from their dugout and tipped their caps to the crowd.

"They've been so supportive," Francona said of the fans. "The atmosphere here has been incredible. Our players wanted to show their appreciation."

Mike Minor pitched the ninth inning for Kansas City and earned his first career save. He gave up a single to Yandy Diaz to lead off the inning, then struck out Yan Gomes, Francisco Mejia and Lindor.

Lindor was one of the heroes on Thursday when the Indians trailed by one and were down to their last strike in the when he smacked a run-scoring double to send the game to extra innings.

Cleveland went on to win that one 3-2 when Jay Bruce drove in a run in the 10th.

"What they did is utterly amazing. Unfathomable," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "To go over three weeks without losing a game, that's incredible."

Nevertheless, Yost added, "We didn't show up to be part of that streak.

"We had every intention of beating the streak," he said. Our guys played their hearts out.

On Friday, Royals pitchers held Cleveland scoreless on three hits over the last six innings. The Indians had runners at first and second with one out in the seventh, but Trevor Cahill induced Austin Jackson to ground into an inning-ending double play.

- Indians playoff bound -
Lindor led off the bottom of the first with a double to left field and scored on Edwin Encarnacion's fly out.

The Royals pulled the run back in the second when Escobar belted a 2-2 pitch from Bauer over the left field wall.

Cleveland answered with two runs in the third, when Jackson doubled with two outs and scored on Jose Ramirez's homer.

Bauer gave up a home run over to center from Moss to lead off the fourth, and the Royals tied it in the fifth when Eric Hosmer singled in a run.

Kansas City took a 4-3 lead in the sixth, when Cain's single scored Alex Gordon.

"The magnitude of the streak didn't hit me until (Thursday night)," Bauer said. "It was a hell of a run. It's the second 22-game winning streak I've blown. In 2010 at UCLA (university) we won our first 22 games. I pitched the 23rd game and lost. Have someone else pitch for 23."

The Indians are back in action in Cleveland on Saturday, when they again host the Royals. Although the streak is over, the AL Central division leaders have already secured their playoff berth.

"I don't think anything is over," Francona said. "We showed up tonight to win, and we didn't win. To me this is a jumping off point. Where do we go from here? Up."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Indians set AL record with 21st straight win

WASHINGTON -- Jay Bruce and Roberto Perez both homered as the Cleveland Indians set an American League record with their 21st consecutive win -- a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

Cleveland had matched the 2002 Oakland Athletics' 20-game winning streak with a win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

With another triumph in front of ecstatic home fans in Cleveland they surpassed that AL record, and tied the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the second-longest winning streak in Major League history.

The 26-game wining streak by the 1916 New York Giants is considered the longest ever in the Major Leagues -- despite the fact that the Giants' run actually included one tie game, which wasn't counted toward official statistics.

"It's pretty special," said Indians manager Terry Francona, who has played down the streak in a bid to ease pressure on his players, who haven't lost a game since August 23.

The Indians have out-scored opponents 139-35 during the streak.

"Our guys are enjoying it, and they should," Francona said. "When you do something and do it the right way, you should enjoy it."

Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger gave up one earned run in 5 2/3 innings to get the win.

Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to earn his 27th save.

Detroit starter Buck Farmer gave up four runs in four innings and took the loss.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Indians responded promptly.

Francisco Lindor led off the bottom of the first with a double into the right field corner.

Lonnie Chisenhall struck out but Jose Ramirez drew a walk. Farmer struck out Edwin Encarnacion for the second out, but Bruce hit a fly ball to left field that just made it over the wall for a three-run homer and a 3-1 lead.

The Indians scored again in a testy third inning in which Detroit manager Brad Ausums and catcher James McCann were ejected.

Jose Ramirez doubled with two outs and scored on a bloop single to right field by Encarnacion to extend the Indians' lead to 4-1.

Bruce, the next hitter, took a close pitch for ball four. McCann said something to home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, and was immediately thrown out of the game.

Ausmus, who was on his way to the mound, detoured to the plate to argue further and he, too, was sent packing.

With Carlos Santana, the next hitter, at the plate, and John Hicks, the next catcher, behind it, Farmer threw a fastball that Hicks reached for but missed. The ball hit Wolcott in the left shoulder, knocking him on his back. After a brief delay, Wolcott remained in the game.

The Tigers knocked Clevinger out of the game in the sixth inning, scoring two unearned runs. Miguel Cabrera hit a grounder to third baseman Yandy Diaz, who threw wildly to first for an error, allowing Cabrera to reach second base.

Castellano followed with a double, scoring Cabrera to make it 4-2. Clevinger retired the next two hitters, but Andrew Romine lined a single to right, scoring Castellanos as Cleveland's lead dwindled to 4-3.

Farmer and relief pitcher Daniel Norris combined to retire 11 straight batters through the middle innings.

But the Indians stretched their lead to 5-3 when Perez smacked an 0-2 pitch from Norris over the center field wall.

The Indians have trailed for only four of the 189 innings played during the streak. Indians starting pitchers during the streak are 19-0 with a 1.67 ERA.

"Everybody pretty much has had a hand in doing something," Francona said.

Bruce said the key was not to focus on all the victories piling up and the historical implications as they do.

"We're not consumed by the streak," Bruce said. "What consumes us is coming to the park every day getting ready to play that game.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

AL rides early homers to 4-2 win in All-Star Game

Second-inning homers by Kansas City teammates Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez powered the American League to a 4-2 victory over the National League on Tuesday night in the 87th All-Star Game before 42,386 at Petco Park.

The National League was leading 1-0 thanks to a Kris Bryant homer in the first inning when Hosmer tied it with a one-out homer off National League starter Johnny Cueto. Two batters later, Perez connected for a two-run shot off Cueto.

Hosmer, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, was named the Most Valuable Player.

Cleveland right-hander Corey Kluber was the winning pitcher and Baltimore left-hander Zach Britton collected the save. Cueto suffered the loss.

The National League stranded 10 runners and left the bases loaded in the eighth when Houston right-hander Will Harris threw a full-count, called third strike past pinch-hitter Aldemys Diaz of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The heavy San Diego influence of the pregame ceremonies carried into the first inning when Bryant, a University of San Diego alum, homered on the first pitch he saw from American League starter Chris Sale in an all-Chicago matchup.

The Cubs third baseman drove the ball 410 feet into the left field stands off the White Sox right-hander.

But the American League retaliated in the bottom of the second against Cueto, taking a 3-1 lead on two homers by members of the reigning World Series champion Royals.

With one out, Hosmer dropped a 389-foot drive into the left field stands to tie the score at 1. Boston outfielder Mookie Betts singled and Royals catcher Eddie Perez hit a 373-foot blast into the left field stands peppered the night before by Home Run Derby champion Giancarlo Stanton.

Hosmer and Perez were the first set of teammates to homer in the same inning since Steve Garvey and Jimmy Wynn of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1975 All-Star Game.

Cole Hamels continued the host city story in the top of the third when the San Diego native struck out Bryant with the tying runs at second and third with two outs.

The American League extended its lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third against Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, who has announced he will retire at the end of the 2016 season, drew a one-out walk and received an ovation from the crowd and hugs from the American League bench when he came out for pinch-runner Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays.

Encarnacion raced to third on a double by Boston's Xander Bogarts and scored on a single by Hosmer, the second RBI by the Royals first baseman. But Betts grounded into a double play to end the threat.

The National League cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fourth. Giants catcher Buster Posey drew a one-out walk from Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez and came around on back-to-back singles by Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Marlins center fielder Marcell Osuna.

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Tigers look to end 28-year World Series drought

The Detroit Tigers, populated over the years by some of Major League Baseball's (MLB) most dynamic and colorful players, return to the World Series for the second time in six years looking to end a 28-year title drought.

A charter member of the American League (AL) dating back to 1901, the Tigers have won just four Fall Classic crowns but are peaking along with Detroit's brilliant autumn leaves thanks to a sparkling starting rotation and dangerous lineup.

Led by the towering talents of pitcher Justin Verlander and slugger Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers put an inconsistent campaign behind them down the stretch to overtake the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central division crown.

The Tigers roared back by winning eight of their last 10 regular season games while Chicago lost 11 of their last 15.

Detroit then beat Oakland 3-2 in a best-of-five AL Division Series and swept the top-seeded New York Yankees 4-0 in the AL Championship Series (ALCS) to add the current group's achievements to past glories.

The Tigers were a powerful team in their early days, featuring one of baseball's greatest players in Ty Cobb.

The fiercely combative Cobb led Detroit to three consecutive AL pennants from 1907 but lost each time in the World Series.

Cobb played 22 years in Detroit and still stands first on MLB's all-time career batting average list at .367 and second in hits with 4,191, a total surpassed only by Pete Rose in 1985.

The outfielder so dominated that when the initial Hall of Fame voting took place in 1936 he garnered the most votes, topping Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson among Cooperstown's inaugural class.

Lean years

Slugger Hank Greenberg, nicknamed "the Hebrew Hammer" as the best known Jewish player of his day, helped Detroit win their first World Series in 1935 and challenged Babe Ruth's single season home run mark of 60 set in 1927, with 58 in 1938.

He served 45 months in the military during World War Two and, after he was discharged, rejoined the Tigers in 1945 and helped them win their second World Series that season.

Though the early years featured high-powered offenses, Detroit won their next crown in the 1968 'Year of the Pitcher.'

Hitters were so overmatched that season that MLB lowered the pitching mound the next year to give hitters a better chance, but in 1968 Detroit's pitchers led them to a seven-game triumph over hard-throwing Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Portly left-hander Mickey Lolich overshadowed team mate Denny McLain, who won 31 games that season, notching three wins in the Series, including a Game Seven victory on two days rest.

The '70s brought lean years, but 1976 was a season of wonder for rookie Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, whose eccentric patting of the mound and chattering to himself made him a famed figure as the 21-year-old rookie posted a 19-9 mark and 2.34 earned run average (ERA).

The last title for Detroit came in 1984 after a record start of 35-5 propelled them with starter Jack Morris, reliever Willie Hernandez, and Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammel leading the charge.

Economically depressed

The 2012 Tigers have given the economically depressed city something to cheer about, as the club surpassed three million in attendance despite the hard times that hit the Detroit area.

This echoes the way the city responded to the Tigers of 1968, bonding in support of the baseball team one year after a bloody five days of rioting in the city left 43 people dead.

These Tigers set their sights on a fifth title in their 111-year existence with their starting rotation pitching lights out.

Verlander, so dominant in 2011 he was a twin winner of MLB's top individual awards in taking the Cy Young as best pitcher and adding AL Most Valuable Player honours, posted a 17-8 mark this season to anchor a rotation that has thrived in the playoffs.

Along with Doug Fister, Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez the Tigers allowed just two earned runs in the ALCS, pitching to a 0.66 ERA and holding the Yankees to a batting average of .144.

Cabrera led the league in home runs (44), runs batted in (139) and batting average (.330) to become the first player in 45 years to claim the Triple Crown and forms a potent middle of the order backed by slugging first baseman Prince Fielder and postseason terror Delmon Young.

Fielder (30 homers, 108 RBIs) was added as a free agent after signing a nine-year, $214 million deal, while Young has been a postseason powerhouse.

Young, who hit five homers and drove in six runs in last year's playoff run by Detroit, who reached the ALCS before falling to Texas, slugged a pair of homers and had six RBIs in ALCS against the Yankees.

source: abs-cbnnews.com