MINNEAPOLIS – In Game 3 of the American League Division Series, the Houston Astros delivered a dominant performance against the Minnesota Twins, winning 9-1 and moving one step closer to advancing in the postseason.
Key player Jose Abreu, formerly with the Chicago White Sox, played a pivotal role in this victory. Abreu, who had only hit one postseason home run in his nine seasons with the White Sox, smashed two homers with the Astros in this game and went 2-for-5 with five RBIs.
Yordan Alvarez also shined for the Astros, finishing 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and an RBI. Alex Bregman added to the offensive onslaught, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
Astros’ right-hander Cristian Javier had an impressive outing on the mound, striking out nine batters in five scoreless innings, although he walked five. Javier’s performance was crucial in shutting down the Twins’ offense.
In contrast, Twins right-hander Sonny Gray had a challenging outing, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits in just four innings. Gray walked one and struck out six but couldn’t contain the Astros’ early offensive surge.
The Astros set the tone for the game with four runs in the first inning. Kyle Tucker’s RBI single and Abreu’s massive 442-foot homer put Houston ahead 4-0.
Bregman’s home run in the fifth inning extended the lead to 5-0, and he contributed an RBI single in the sixth, making it 6-1. In the sixth inning, the Twins managed to score their only run with an RBI single by Willi Castro.
Yordan Alvarez’s solo homer in the ninth inning and a two-run shot by Jose Abreu further sealed the Astros’ commanding victory.
With a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, the Astros will aim to clinch their spot in the next round on the road in Game 4.
Astros manager Dusty Baker praised his team’s confidence and playing style, emphasizing that they don’t get overly cocky, they just focus on the game. The Astros now look forward to the next game with optimism.
