Well the ALCS certainly turned around quickly. Entering Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays had a 3-0 series lead over the Houston Astros. And on Friday, the Astros tied up the series to force a Game 7 at Petco Park.
Houston took down Tampa Bay 7-4 in Game 6, with a four-run fifth inning highlighting the victory.
The Astros trailed 1-0 entering that fifth inning, when George Springer hit a two-run single, Jose Altuve hit an RBI double, and Carlos Correa hit an RBI single.
Big inning. Need it so bad. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/HQVTkWrkyh
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 17, 2020
And in the top of the sixth, Houston’s Kyle Tucker hit an impressive blast to left-center field off Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan. This is incredible hitting:
Rays bring in lefty Shane McClanahan to face Kyle Tucker, who blasts those plans to left-center field with an opposite-field shot 💪 pic.twitter.com/g97AOr1HSM
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 17, 2020
The Rays got a pair of home runs from Manuel Margot (seventh and eighth inning), but after the Astros had taken a six-run lead. Tampa Bay’s offense has been struggling outside of Margot and Randy Arozarena, and hasn’t scored over five runs in a game this series (and only scored five once).
So, now all of the pressure is on Tampa Bay in Saturday’s Game 7. Lance McCullers Jr. gets the start for Houston, and Charlie Morton (a member of the 2017-18 Astros) goes for the Rays. You can be sure that all hands will be on deck and each manager will be aggressive with the bullpen usage if necessary.
