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SPORTS Monday 23 SepteMber 2019

Springer 3 HRs, Verlander 20th win, Astros clinch AL West

By KRISTIE RIEKEN Alfonso Soriano with the
AP Sports Writer Yankees in 2003.
HOUSTON (AP) — George Jared Walsh and Michael
Springer, Justin Verlander Hermosillo hit back-to-back
and the Houston Astros put triples with two outs in the
a check mark in the Sep- second to tie it up.
tember box. Los Angeles manager Brad
And amid the celebra- Ausmus was asked if see-
tion of clinching their third ing the Astros celebrate on
straight AL West title, they Sunday could provide mo-
already were thinking tivation to his team.
ahead to what they might "You hope for the younger
achieve in October. guys," he said. "Older guys
"You can't ever take the first probably just look the other
goal for granted," Verland- way ... it's a lot more fun to
er said. "I know everybody be on that side."
says we're going to win the Aledmys Diaz singled with
World Series, but you can't no outs in the second and
do that without this first. Springer connected off
So, step one complete. Rodriguez (0-1) again with
Now we have the divisional two outs to put the Astros
round coming up and we'll up 3-1. There were two outs
... prepare for that and try in the fourth when Springer
to win 11 games." sent a fastball from José
Springer hit a career-high Houston Astros' George Springer, right, celebrates his solo home run off Los Angeles Angels relief Suárez into the seats in left
three homers, Verlander pitcher Jose Suarez with Jose Altuve during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. field to make it 4-2.
posted his MLB-leading 22, 2019, in Houston. It was Springer's third home run of the game. The record of four homers
20th win and the Astros se- Associated Press has been done 18 times,
cured the division crown in mostly recently by J.D. Mar-
grand fashion, routing the everything feels like it's the shy of becoming the 18th the NL Central in 1997-99 tinez for Arizona in 2017. This
Los Angeles Angels 13-5. best of all time," Hinch said. pitcher in MLB history to and 2001 and their three was the 14th time in a reg-
A crowd at Minute Maid "We've done a lot of good reach 3,000. most recent titles in the AL. ular-season game in fran-
Park that was cheering things around here over the The 36-year-old righty has Springer homered on his chise history that an Astros
from Verlander's first pitch last five years that I've been fanned 288 this season, first three at-bats to help player has hit three homers
got even louder as Springer here. Every accomplish- second most in his career Houston take a 4-2 lead in and the second time this
homered three times in the ment seems to be build- in second in the majors be- the fourth inning. season after rookie Yordan
first four innings. The Astros ing and building to being hind teammate Gerrit Cole. "The first at-bat was huge Alvarez also did it.
kept breaking away and better. I like hanging flags: Verlander, who leads the just because we're all wait- TRAINER'S ROOM
improved to 102-54, a half- flags for divisions matter, AL with a 2.53 ERA, is the ing to get the lead so we Astros: RHP Brad Peacock
game ahead of the New flags for the World Series first Astros pitcher to win 20 can feel like we're going to (right shoulder soreness)
York Yankees for the best matter, and I want our guys games since Dallas Keuchel clinch," Hinch said. "George was reinstated from the 10-
record in the majors. to appreciate that." went 20-8 in 2015 when he does it within the first cou- day injured list. He walked
After the final out, the As- Springer, the MVP of the won the Cy Young. ple of pitches. He followed one and struck out one a
tros held a bouncing group 2017 World Series, had It's the second time that it up with a couple more scoreless sixth.
hug in the middle of the two chances to tie the big Verlander has started a homers ... our vibe was real- ATTENDANCE DOWN
diamond and posed for a league record for home game in which the Astros ly good today. We wanted The Astros wrapped up their
team picture. It hasn't been runs in a game. He popped clinched the division after to celebrate today." home schedule on Sunday
determined who they will up with the bases loaded in he did it soon after he was The Astros added six runs with a season attendance
face in the playoffs as they the fifth and grounded out traded from Detroit in 2017. in a fifth, highlighted by a of 2,857,367. That's down
try for their second World in the seventh. "The last time I clinched the two-run homer from Alex from last season when they
Series championship in Verlander (20-6) yielded six division for the Houston As- Bregman to make it 10-2. drew 2,980,549.
three years. hits and two runs in five in- tros we went on to do some Springer, who has a career- UP NEXT
Manager AJ Hinch spoke nings to reach 20 wins for pretty special things that best 38 home runs this sea- Angels: Los Angeles is off
to the team in the club- the second time in his ca- year," he said. "Glad to be son, got to work immediate- on Monday before LHP Dil-
house as the players broke reer and the first since win- out there. These moments ly, sending Jose Rodriguez's lon Peters (3-3, 4.81) starts
out the bubbly and began ning the AL MVP and Cy as an organization are so first pitch into left-center in the opener of two-game
a spraying celebration. Young Award in 2011 when special. I'm just so happy to field for his franchise-record series against Oakland. Pe-
"I don't ever want to disre- he went 24-5 for Detroit. be a part of it." 12th leadoff homer this sea- ters allowed five hits and
spect the things we've al- This year's AL Cy Young The Astros won their ninth son. That left him one shy of two runs in his last start but
ready accomplished, but front-runner struck out five division title. They took the the MLB record for leadoff did not factor in the deci-
when you're in the moment to leave him six strikeouts NL West in 1980 and 1986, homers in a season set by sion against the Yankees.q