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SPORTS Friday 20 OctOber 2017

Astros now trailing Yankees in ALCS, need 9th Verlander win

By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) — Justin
Verlander agreed to that
last-minute trade to the
Houston Astros with hopes
of another World Series,
and has since won all eight
games he has pitched.
Eight is not enough. The As-
tros have to win Verlander’s
ninth game — or their sea-
son will end short of that
goal.
“Obviously. I know this is
one of the main reasons
I was brought here,” Ver-
lander said Thursday. “This
is why I’m here.”
Six days after the big right-
hander threw a complete
game against the Yankees
to put Houston up 2-0 in the
best-of-7 AL Champion-
ship Series, the teams will
be back in Minute Maid
Park for Game 6 on Friday
night with the Astros fac-
ing an elimination game
after New York swept three
games in the Bronx.
“Well, there’s immediate Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws during the first inning of Game 2 of the American League Championship
belief when you have a Series baseball game against the New York Yankees Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Houston. Associated Press
Justin Verlander go,” man-
ager A.J. Hinch said. “His “Look at a number of oth- as many as Luis Severino “My (excitement) level is, I all that stuff, this is when it
presence will immediately er players that have been did for the Yankees. That is think it’s a hundred,” Sev- pays off the most. ... I came
make everybody sit up through playoffs, and also the starting matchup erino said, adding he felt out of that start better than
straight, stand up a little bit they’ve had their struggles, for Game 6. great after a good bullpen almost any I have all year.”
more, have a little bit more and all of a sudden they Severino didn’t take the session Wednesday. This ALCS so far has fol-
energy because of the can get hot,” Yankees mound for the fifth in Game Verlander made two World lowed the same pattern
presence that he brings.” manager Joe Girardi said. 2, an inning after Girardi Series starts as a rookie with as the 2001 World Series for
The Astros certainly need “And I think everything is and a trainer visited the Detroit in 2006, and made New York, which then lost
the boost. magnified when you’re mound after the 23-year- it again in 2012 with the the first two games at Arizo-
Aaron Judge and all those in the playoffs, and two old right-hander uncharac- Tigers, who completed a na before winning three in
baby bombers from New games seem like forever, teristically wound his arm trade Aug. 31 to send him a row at Yankee Stadium.
York, who had a pair of 2-1 where if you struggle two several times soon after to Houston only minutes That’s where the Yankees
losses in Houston and struck games in the season peo- giving up a solo homer to before the deadline for him would like the similarities
out 13 times against Ver- ple don’t say much.” Carlos Correa. to be eligible to pitch in this to end since they lost 15-2
lander, definitely have a The Yankees are one win He stayed in then, but then postseason. in Game 6 against Randy
lot more energy and confi- away from their first AL pen- he was struck on the wrist So what did the 34-year-old Johnson when Andy Pet-
dence after outscoring the nant since 2009 and record of his no-throwing hand by Verlander do in between titte started tipping his
Astros 19-5 and outhitting 41st overall. a one-hopper that was the starts after the 124 pitches pitches.
them 25-12 in their three Houston has to win Ver- inning-ending out. last Saturday? Roger Clemens started
home games. lander’s start and then an- Afterward, Severino said “I kind of stepped on the game 7 for the Yankees
And they have already other game for its first AL he was fine — and that gas. I feel as good now as against Curt Schilling, but
turned the tables on Dallas pennant. The Astros were checked out with doc- I’ve felt all year,” Verlander it was Johnson who got his
Keuchel, the other Astros still in the National League tors — and had wanted to said. “This is what we work third win of the series pitch-
ace who lost Game 5 after for their only World Series keep pitching. so hard for. My workout ing in relief after the Dia-
winning the series opener appearance 12 years ago. Now he gets a chance to regimen in the offseason, mondbacks scored twice
with 10 strikeouts over sev- Verlander in Game 2 threw pitch the Yankees into the my throwing regimen, my in the ninth off Mariano Ri-
en scoreless innings. 124 pitches, exactly twice World Series. shoulder regimen in season, vera for a 3-2 victory.q