Rangers vs. Astros ALCS Game 3: Astros chase Max Scherzer early, cut Rangers' series lead to 2-1
The Astros put an end to the Rangers' perfect postseason with an 8-5 victory in Game 3 of the ALCS
It wasn't a great start for Max Scherzer in his first outing since Sept. 12. A hit by pitch, a walk and a wild pitch, along with a pair of singles, plated three runs for the Houston Astros in the second inning, which marked their first time leading in this ALCS vs. the Texas Rangers.
A three-spot in the 2nd for the @Astros! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/3Ebzs3QjRV
— MLB (@MLB) October 19, 2023
It was a barrage of hits and defense from there, with the Astros ultimately prevailing 8-5 on Wednesday to make the series 2-1. Jose Altuve got in on the action with his first hit of the series and his 25th career postseason home run.
Scherzer made it through four while giving up five runs in his first postseason start with Texas. For the Astros, Cristian Javier didn't allow a baserunner until a third-inning walk and didn't surrender a hit until Nathaniel Lowe singled in the fifth. Josh Jung made him pay with a two-run homer that got the Rangers back in the game.
#Postseason baseball is a Jung-man's game. pic.twitter.com/fI2NBtir6E
— MLB (@MLB) October 19, 2023
Then Leody Taveras energized the home crowd even further with a dramatic home run robbery on Yordan Alvarez.
home run robberies > home runs pic.twitter.com/qNKaAUbZQW
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) October 19, 2023
In the seventh, the Astros tacked on two more before Jung hit another two-run home run to make it 7-4.
Josh Jung with his second HR of the night ✌️
(via @MLB)
pic.twitter.com/0y2lytzvUa— Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) October 19, 2023
See below for more news, scores and highlights from Game 3 of the all-Texas ALCS.