ALDS: Rangers Roll, \’Stros in Control

October 11, 2023 ALDS: Rangers Roll, \’Stros in Control

By: Carlos Alvarez

Rangers Take Game 3 (7-1) to Sweep the 101-Win Orioles; Astros Launch 3 HRs in Rout of Twins (9-1)

A season to remember for the Baltimore Orioles has come crashing to an end. The O\’s entered October with 101 wins and the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2016. Three games later, they’re toast. The red-hot Rangers rolled Baltimore in Game 3 to complete the sweep and send the Orioles to the offseason with a sour taste. Out in Minnesota, the Astros ran roughshod over the Twins (9-1) to take a 2-1 edge in the series. The ALCS has one of its finalists. Could we be heading towards an all-Texas ALCS? Let’s rewind:

 

ALDS Gm 3: Rangers def. Orioles (7-1)

Credit to our social media star, Aaron Yorke. The guy warned us about the Rangers, even without their aces. Texas just gave Baltimore the business for the third straight game. The Rangers hopped on top early in the closeout Game 3 with a Corey Seager solo shot before Adolis Garcia cranked a three-run blast to cap a five-run 2nd inning. It was 6-0 Texas in a blink. Nathan Eovaldi was spectacular (7 IP, 7 Ks, 5 Hits, 1 ER), and the Rangers advance to the ALCS on five straight playoff wins. They’ve outscored opponents 32-12 in October, and the team has a collective OPS of nearly .900. Ridiculous. For Baltimore, they\’re the second MLB team ever to not get swept in the regular season and exit via sweep in the playoffs. TEX Wins Series (3-0)

 

ALDS Gm 3: Astros def. Twins (9-1)

With the other series wrapped, the AL turns its focus on Minnesota and Houston, and it was all Astros in Game 3. Tuesday’s game ball belongs to Yordan Alvarez. The Astros’ slugger went 3-for-5 with two doubles and his fourth home run of the series. So far in the ALDS, Alvarez is 6-for-12 with four dingers, six RBIs and 20 total bases. He’s just one HR shy of tying the all-time record for HRs in a five-game series. Minnesota couldn’t get the bats going against Astros’ starter Cristian Javier (5 IP, 9 Ks, 1 Hit, 0 ER), and Houston controls the series with Game 4 today in Minnesota. HOU Leads Series (2-1)

 

Today’s Schedule (ALDS/NLDS)

NLDS Gm 3: Braves at Phillies (5:07 pm ET)

ALDS Gm 4: Astros at Twins (7:07 pm ET)
NLDS Gm 3: Dodgers at Diamondbacks (9:07 pm ET)

 

Read More

SI: Rangers Sweep Orioles to Reach ALCS for 1st Time in 12 Years

B/R: Cristian Javier’s Historic Dominance Wows Fans as Astros Beat Twins in Game 3

 

Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images