Nathaniel Lowe's home run dices Game 5 of the ALCS

ARLINGTON, Texas — For Jose Altuve, the first 100 career playoff games are in the books. How far can he go in the next century of games?

The Houston Astros stalwart started that Friday, with Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Globe Life Field. Altuve and the Astros went on a nearly uninterrupted 110-game losing streak in a decade.

At 33, Aldway is always a possibility in a postseason environment: He had three hits in Houston’s 10-3 Game 4 victory and five of his last nine at-bats. Thanks to an ever-increasing list of postseason games, he’s at the top of nearly every offensive category.

His three-run home run in Game 4 moved him past Bernie Williams for second in playoff history; He has a ways to go to 85 to catch all-time leader Derek Jeter’s 111. Alduway is second in career home runs with 25 and fourth in hits (112) and extra-base hits (45).

Altuve is signed through 2024, and the Astros show little sign of slowing down.

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“I’m grateful to be here to play so many playoff games,” Aldway said Friday before Game 5. “Yeah, I’ve been (leaders) in the playoffs with some hits and homers and individual stats, but every time you play you think you’re going to win.

“I can say the stats mean something because you’re helping the team, but at the end of the day it’s not about the highlights. It’s about winning.

And that’s plenty. Like Alduway and third baseman Alex Bregman, only Braves pitchers Tom Clavin and John Smoltz have appeared in seven consecutive league championship series. The Astros are two wins from losing their fifth World Series in this run.

It’s gone fast — and going fast, too fast for Altuve to reflect.

“You can ask me again after the whole thing is over,” he says of his memorable moments in this stretch. Maybe I’ll get a better answer. I enjoy everything.

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The Rangers tie it on Nathaniel Lowe’s home run

ARLINGTON, Texas — After nearly five innings and little hard contact, the Texas Rangers finally got Justin Verlander.

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe hit a 95-mph line out to left field, getting just enough to avoid Houston Astros left fielder Chaz McCormick, and the Rangers tied Game 5 of the ALCS 1-1.

Until then, Verlander had outpaced Texas starter Jordan Montgomery, giving up just one hit and a walk, his only blemish being Alex Bregman’s first-inning home run.

Despite the game-tying count, Verlander and the Astros are in good shape: He’s thrown the ball on just 67 pitches through five innings and figures to be the best of the Houston bullpen.

Rangers waste opportunity Verlander, still trailing at three

ARLINGTON, Texas — After two perfect innings, the Texas Rangers suddenly had Justin Verlander right where he wanted him: a walk, a single, runners on first and third and one out in the third.

In two more pitches, it was over.

Sluggers Marcus Siemian and Corey Seager both fell on Verlander’s first pitch and a golden opportunity passed both, Siemian to first base and Seager to shallow left field.

Verlander has thrown 35 pitches in three innings, and Houston’s high-leverage relievers — Hector Neris, Brian Abreu and Ryan Pressley — are all rested and ready for this crucial Game 5.

While it’s still early, the Rangers may soon start to feel the pressure on the Astros’ pitching.

— Cape Locks

The Astros took an early lead in the first inning

ARLINGTON, Texas – For the third straight game, the Texas Rangers will face an early-inning deficit in their home ballpark. Is a third loss in the cards in this ALCS?

Houston’s no. 3 hitter Alex Bregman hit a home run into the left field seats in Game 4 on left-hander Jordan Montgomery’s fifth pitch, and the Astros took a 1-0 lead before handing the ball to Justin Verlander in his 38th start of the season.

The method is known.

The Astros led 3-0 after two innings of Game 3 and one It took Game 4 and two, erasing a 2-0 ALCS deficit. Today’s winner takes an all-important 3-2 advantage and the series heads to Houston for Game 6 on Saturday.

— Cape Locks

How to watch Astros vs. Rangers: Time, TV channel

Game 5 starts on Friday 5:07 pm ET Broadcasting Fox Sports 1

Astros’ Yordon Alvarez ‘World’s Greatest Hitter’

ARLINGTON, Texas — In eight postseason games, Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is now batting .419 (13 for 31), reaching base at a .471 clip and driving in 13 runs. It won’t appear in his playoff game record, but let the record reflect that the hitters in front of him and behind him in the lineup combined to drive in five runs.

After going down 2-0 in Game 1 of this ALCS, the Astros have scored four, eight and 10 runs in their next three games. Swagger is back, mostly because of their cleanup hitter who moves quietly, but may give Bryce Harper a run as the most impactful hitter in the game.

“Alvarez is on fire right now. And he’s the best hitter in the world,” said outfielder Chaz McCormick, whose third career postseason home run gave Houston a 9-3 lead. “So when our guy goes, Alduve goes and Jose Abreu goes, we’re one of the best teams in the world. is one.