Alvarez strikes again, Astros go 2-0 up on Mariners
Yordan Alvarez blasted another game-winning home run as the Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-2 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Major League Baseball playoff series on Thursday. Alvarez, who broke Seattle hearts with a walk-off three-run home run in game one on Tuesday, once again electrified Houston's home crowd at Minute Maid Park. The 25-year-old Cuban slugger slammed a two-run shot off starter Luis Castillo into the left field seats in the sixth inning to transform a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. That 371-foot blast changed the momentum of the game and ultimately set up victory for the Astros, who are chasing a fourth World Series appearance in six seasons since their 2017 victory. Astros shortstop Alex Bregman singled to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Jeremy Pena for an insurance run. The Astros now need just one win from the remaining three games of the American League Division Series to advance to an AL Championship Series against either the Cleveland Guardians or New York Yankees. The Astros initially took the lead in the second inning when Kyle Tucker homered off Castillo into right field. But Seattle tied it up in the top of the fourth when Eugenio Suarez scored after Carlos Santana reached on a fielder's choice. Seattle right fielder Dylan Moore then singled to drive in Mitch Haniger to put the visitors up 2-1. The series now heads to Seattle for game three on Saturday. Thursday's other playoff game between the Yankees and Guardians was postponed due to forecast inclement weather in New York. Game two of the series, which the Yankees lead 1-0, will now take place on Friday, MLB said in a statement. (AFP)