Astros Stage Big Comeback to Overtake Mariners in Game 1 of Division Series

Justin Verlander had an uncharacteristically bad outing in Game 1 of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners on October 11th. Verlander, one of the favorites for the A.L. Cy Young Award based on his record this season of 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA, allowed six earned runs in just four innings to the upstart Mariners. Seattle had a 7-3 lead after seven innings.

But the Astros showed why they won an American League best 106 games during the regular season. In the bottom of the eighth, Yordan Alvarez reached on a base hit, followed by an Alex Bregman home run to cut it to 7-5.

The Mariners did not score in the top of the ninth, and Seattle called on closer Paul Sewald to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Sewald retired two Astros, but also allowed two base runners on a hit by pitch and a single. So with two on and two out, Seattle manager Scott Servais went to the bullpen again, summoning last year’s Cy Young Award winner (when he was with Toronto) Robbie Ray to get that third out. Ray started all 32 games he appeared in this season, and has 221 regular season starts in 225 games. While starters are often used out of the bullpen in the post season, sometimes the lack of familiarity with being used in that way can backfire on a pitcher. Which is exactly what happened.

Ray faced the aforementioned Alvarez, who hit the second pitch 438 feet for a three run home run and a 8-7 Houston victory.

The Astros take a 1-0 lead in this best of five Division Series. Also taking 1-0 leads in their A.L. Division Series were the Yankees (4-1 winners over Cleveland), and in the National League, the Phillies (7-6 winners over the Braves) and the Dodgers (5-3 over San Diego).