2023-10-16 04:59:14
HOUSTON — The formula Rangers’ 2-0 win in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series over the Astros on Sunday at Minute Maid Park was one of so many triumphs: Good starting pitching, excellent relief, solid defense and an offense that contributed just enough. That way, Texas came out on top in this best-of-seven series.
“We just found a way to score a couple of runs,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “That was the difference in the game, obviously.”
For Texas to win its sixth undefeated game of this postseason, there wasn’t much room for error once morest the defending World Series champions. A key play was the tremendous catch that resulted in a fatal double-play for the Astros in the eighth inning. A 6.1 zero start from left-hander Jordan Montgomery was crucial, along with 2.2 scoreless innings from a Rangers bullpen that has done a 180-degree turn in the last month. And a home run by Leody Taveras, combined with an RBI single by Johah Heim, was what was needed from the bats.
“Happy to be able to contribute to the team in that way,” said Taveras, whose first career postseason home run off Astros starter Justin Verlander put the game 2-0 in favor of Texas in the fifth inning.
Aside from Montgomery’s brilliant start, the Rangers’ relief pitching once once more showed its face, as it did throughout these playoffs. Josh Sborz (0.2 IL), Cuban Aroldis Chapman (1.0, with the help of Evan Carter’s brilliant catch in the eighth inning) and Dominican José Leclerc (1.0) finished shutting out the powerful offensive attack of the Astros, a team that He scored 39 runs in three games at Arlington in sweeping the Rangers in three games Sept. 4-6, the last time they met.
“The bullpen, I think, looks pretty good,” Chapman said. “Everyone is pretty united and I think that’s an important part.
“That double-play was excellent there. “I think it was a great play.”
Now, the Rangers have taken home-field advantage from the Astros in this series with the victory in Game 1. With their undefeated streak this postseason intact, Texas will go for more on Monday followingnoon in Game 2.
“It’s a blessing for all of us because we’re getting what we want,” Taveras said.
Bochy added: “I thought it was going to be a game with few runs. “Our guys played well.”
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