In a thrilling contest, the Houston Astros managed to keep their remarkable road record against the Texas Rangers intact with an 8-5 victory in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The Astros displayed their unwavering prowess on the road by extending their dominant performance, bringing the series to a 2-2 tie.
Houston has been unstoppable, boasting 17 wins in their last 20 road games, with a particularly impressive record of 7-1 when visiting the Rangers in 2023. The Astros have been scoring at an impressive average of 8.9 runs per game over these eight encounters, sending a clear message that they thrive in the unfamiliar territory of their rivals.
This road success is a statistical anomaly in the world of baseball, as traditionally, teams aim for .500 records on the road and considerably higher records at home. Astros manager Dusty Baker commented on this peculiar trend, stating, “It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. Because usually you want to be .500 on the road and way over .500 at home. I asked the team in spring training to be the best road team. Maybe I should have asked them to be the best road and home team.”
Yordan Alvarez, who has been a standout player this postseason with six homers and 10 RBIs, acknowledged the team’s road performance, saying, “The numbers don’t lie. We play a lot better on the road, and we need to take advantage of it.”
In Game 4, Alvarez, along with Martin Maldonado and Jose Altuve, played a crucial role in securing the win for the Astros. Altuve’s 25th career postseason home run placed him just behind Manny Ramirez (29) for the most playoff homers, solidifying his reputation as one of the best postseason players in history.
The Rangers, led by Josh Jung’s two two-run homers, attempted to halt the Astros’ charge. However, this was their first loss in eight games this postseason. Manager Bruce Bochy praised Jung for his efforts, stating, “The kid did a great job of getting us back in the game a couple of times. We were fighting to get back in it.”
As the series reaches its climax, the competitive spirit remains high. With the teams locked at 2-2, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top in this electrifying ALCS.
On Thursday, left-hander Andrew Heaney will take the mound for the Rangers, while right-hander Jose Urquidy will start for the Astros. Both teams are gearing up for what promises to be a fiercely contested Game 5.
