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SPORTS Thursday 17 OcTOber 2019
Cole pitches Astros past Yankees 4-1 for 2-1 lead in ALCS

By MIKE FITZPATRICK to 12 games dating to last
NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit year.
Cole is making his pitch to "I think everybody knows
own this October. I like swinging the bat," he
A gritty Cole held the New said. "I don't like wasting
York Yankees scoreless too much time on home
without his sharpest stuff, plate."
Jose Altuve sparked Hous- FAST COMPANY
ton at the plate and the Cole has 32 strikeouts in the
Astros locked down a 4-1 playoffs while allowing just
victory Tuesday to take a one run. He joined Astros
2-1 lead in the AL Champi- teammate Justin Verland-
onship Series. er (2013 with Detroit) and
Altuve and Josh Reddick Kevin Brown (1998 for San
homered early off Luis Sev- Diego) as the only pitchers
erino, who labored into the to whiff at least 30 and per-
fifth while keeping the Yan- mit no more than one run in
kees close. But they never a three-game postseason
broke through against span, according to STATS.
Cole, who grinded through TRAINER'S ROOM
seven innings to win his 19th Yankees LF Giancarlo Stan-
straight decision despite ton sat out for the second
walking five batters for the consecutive game be-
second time in his career. cause of a strained right
"Just boiled down to mak- quadriceps. He was re-
ing some good pitches un- placed in the lineup by CF
der pressure," he said. Aaron Hicks, who batted
Cole escaped a bases- Houston Astros starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the New York Yankees during the sec- ninth in his first start since
ond inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Championship Series Tuesday, Oct. 15,
loaded jam in the first 2019, in New York. Aug. 3 due to a strained
and stranded nine runners Associated Press flexor near his right elbow.
through five, improving to Brett Gardner shifted from
3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in three the eighth off Houston re- New York Giants. nally found his rhythm after center to left. Hicks went 0
playoff outings this year. liever Joe Smith, one bat- "He's exceptional. And he that, retiring his last seven for 2 with two walks.
Poised to become a prized ter after replay umpires gets better and better and batters with three strikeouts. OUT AT HOME
free agent who could com- reversed a call and ruled better," Hinch said. "Once He called his early fastball Plate umpire Jeff Nelson ex-
mand more than $200 mil- Edwin Encarnación out he found his curveball, it command "spotty," but his ited with a concussion after
lion, he's putting together a at first base. That led to a was pretty lights out. I think ability to pitch out of trou- taking two foul balls off his
dominant run that's begin- little trash and a ball be- he finished his outing as ble prevented a lively sell- mask, causing a 16-minute
ning to rival some of base- ing thrown onto the field strong as ever." out crowd of 48,998 from delay before the fifth inning.
ball's greatest postseason before public address an- After rolling to a 7-0 vic- really ever letting loose. Kerwin Danley, who was at
pitching performances. nouncer Paul Olden re- tory in the series opener, "I mean, we just had to second base, went inside
The 29-year-old right-hand- minded fans not to toss any the Yankees — the highest- work it," Cole said. and changed into gear to
er, unbeaten in 25 starts objects out of the stands. scoring team in the majors Gregorius also grounded work the plate. Mark Carl-
since late May, allowed Roberto Osuna got three this season — have totaled out with the bases loaded son switched from third to
four hits and struck out quick outs in the ninth for a three runs on two homers in to end the first. second and Marvin Hudson
seven. That ended a streak save. the last 20 innings. "Most of the game was on from left field to third. Sev-
of 11 consecutive games "Two more to go," Osuna "It's obviously a little frus- me," he said. "I didn't come erino was given additional
with double-digit strikeouts said. "I'm excited." trating we weren't able to through, so I was the one time to warm up again,
— the previous big league The bushy-haired Cole break through with him," that failed, not the whole and the game proceeded
record was eight. Cole led grew up in California root- manager Aaron Boone team." with a five-man crew and
the majors with 326 Ks this ing for the Yankees and said. "But I think up and Houston got a rally go- no left field ump.
season. was drafted by them 28th down we gave ourselves ing in the seventh against UP NEXT
"I think he's the best pitch- overall in 2008. He didn't a chance. And anytime scuffling reliever Adam Ot- Both teams were planning
er in baseball right now," sign, choosing instead to you're facing a guy like tavino. George Springer bullpen games Wednes-
Astros manager AJ Hinch attend UCLA before the that, you want that kind of walked and went to third day night, but a rainout
said. "Gerrit is locked in. Pittsburgh Pirates selected traffic. And we had that in when Altuve executed a would allow them to bring
And to see him do it on him with the top pick in several innings. He made perfect run-and-hit single back the Game 1 starters
the big stage in a playoff 2011. big pitches when he had through the right side. on full rest in Game 4 if it
game with the magnitude Making his second career to." After savvy baserunning gets pushed to Thursday.
of this game, it was pretty start at Yankee Stadium, With two on in the fifth and by Springer to stay in a Yankees right-hander Ma-
awesome." he got away with several the Astros clinging to a 2-0 rundown long enough to sahiro Tanaka beat Zack
Game 4 in the best-of-sev- pitches in key situations. lead, Didi Gregorius loft- get runners to second and Greinke in the opener last
en playoff is scheduled for Other times, Cole flashed ed a high fly that Reddick third, Altuve scored on Saturday at Houston, im-
Wednesday night — but the filthy breaking balls and caught at the right field Zack Britton's wild pitch. Yuli proving to 5-2 with a 1.32
that could change. The 98-100 mph heat that have fence. Gurriel made it 4-0 with a ERA in seven career post-
gloomy weather forecast made him so unhittable in "The emotions kind of fol- sacrifice fly. season outings. Tanaka has
calls for a substantial rain- October — and unbeat- lowed the flyball, right?" LET'S GET IT STARTED permitted only one run and
storm, potentially forcing a able since May. Cole explained. "So it was The 5-foot-6 Altuve con- four hits over 11 innings in
postponement that would His winning streak is the kind of like low, to freaking nected on Severino's third winning both his playoff
likely alter pitching plans for longest by a pitcher in one out, to not so worried any- pitch for his fourth homer of games this year, while Gre-
both teams. year since Rube Marquard more." these playoffs, extending inke is 0-2 with an 8.38 ERA
Gleyber Torres homered in began 19-0 for the 1912 The three-time All-Star fi- his postseason hitting streak in two starts.q