The Houston Astros, aiming to advance to the World Series (WS) for the second consecutive year, beat the New York Yankees in their first game and took the lead.
Houston beat the Yankees 4-2 in the first game of the 2022 Major League Baseball (MLB) American League (ALCS) Championship Series (ALCS) held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas on the 20th.
Houston's mound and batting line, which were considered the strongest in the AL, showed their strength. Houston starter Justin Burlander pitched well with three hits, one walk, 11 strikeouts and one run in six innings to become the winning pitcher. He won his 15th career postseason victory. Burlander also recorded 219 strikeouts in the postseason, ranking first in history.
The lineup calmed the Yankees' mound with three home runs. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Yuriuski Griel hit solo home run, and after one out, Chas McCormick hit a solo home run over the right to widen the gap to 3-1 . In the bottom of the seventh inning, rookie shortstop Jeremy Pe のa hit a solo home run to secure a chance to win. Houston secured the victory with the bullpen holding the remaining lead.
In the top of the second inning, the Yankees took the lead by hitting Harrison Vader's first solo, but then failed to score an additional run until the sixth inning due to the good pitching of Burlander. It was not until the top of the eighth inning that Burlander got off the mound that he got a chance, but he still only scored one goal. Home run king Aaron Judge (Yankees), who had high expectations, was silent with no hits and one strikeout in four at-bats.