HOUSTON — Left-hander Dallas Keuchel performed in his first postseason home start like he did throughout the regular season, throwing seven strong innings in the Houston Astros’ 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday at Minute Maid Park in Game 3 of this American League Division Series.
Keuchel (2-0) tossed a season-high 124 pitches and dug deep into his reservoir to strand runners at third base in each of his final two frames. The close of the seventh was particularly dramatic, with Keuchel staying in to face Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who homered off Keuchel leading off the fourth and represented the tying run in a two-run game. Keuchel struck out Cain to cap his outing and preserve his lead.
The Astros took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series behind Keuchel, who allowed one run on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts, and first baseman Chris Carter, whose wobbly defense early was negated by his three-hit effort. Carter finished a triple shy of the cycle after smacking a one-out double in the fifth inning and later scoring the go-ahead run, and hitting a first-pitch leadoff homer in the seventh off Royals lefty Danny Duffy.
Game 4 is Monday afternoon at Minute Maid Park. The Astros will send rookie right-hander Lance McCullers to the mound seeking a berth in the AL Championship Series opposite Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura, who suffered the loss in the series opener.
Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez (0-1) was electric through four innings, relying on a breaking ball that befuddled the Astros. However, he carried a tenuous 1-0 lead into the fifth and surprisingly started to unravel against the bottom of the Houston order.
Carter doubled after third baseman Luis Valbuena worked a walk, setting the table for catcher Jason Castro, who was hitless in nine postseason at-bats. Castro delivered a seeing-eye single to center field, scoring both Valbuena and Carter and delivering Houston a 2-1 lead.
The Astros tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, both coming from the leadoff spot. Right fielder George Springer doubled and scored off Volquez in the sixth, coming home when center fielder Carlos Gomez laced a first-pitch single to center with two outs. Carter added his first career postseason home run an inning later, a deep blast to left.
Volquez allowed three runs on five hits and four walks with eight strikeouts, departing with two outs in the sixth inning. Royals left fielder Alex Gordon smacked a leadoff homer to left in the ninth against Astros closer Luke Gregerson, who rallied to strike out Cain with a runner on first to end the threat.
Blue Jays 5, Rangers 1
ARLINGTON, Texas — Troy Tulowitzki snapped out of his postseason funk with a home run in a four-RBI night as the Toronto Blue Jays stayed alive in the American League Division Series with a victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
The Rangers lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 slated for Monday afternoon at Globe Life Park.
Tulowitzki came into Sunday’s game 0-for-10 in the series and was dropped to the No. 6 spot in the batting order for the first time this season. The move paid off, as the shortstop collected a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning to put Toronto up 2-0.
Tulowitzki, who finished 2-for-3, broke the game open two innings later when he lashed a three-run homer to left with two outs off Texas reliever Chi Chi Gonzalez.
The Tulowitzki output was more than enough support for Toronto right-hander Marco Estrada, who pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just five hits and one run. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter. The Rangers didn’t have a baserunner until third baseman Hanser Alberto hit a two-out double in the bottom of the third inning.
By that time, the Blue Jays already scratched for a run against left-hander Martin Perez, with catcher Dioner Navarro scoring on a double-play grounder in the third inning.
The Blue Jays doubled the advantage in the fourth when Tulowitzki drew an RBI walk. Perez struggled with his command after two perfect innings to open the game. He ended up walking three and allowing four runs on six hits before getting pulled after allowing back-to-back hits to open the sixth inning.
The Rangers scored their lone run in the seventh on an grounder from second baseman Rougned Odor.
Four Texas relievers combined to throw 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Tulowitzki, third baseman Josh Donaldson and center fielder Ryan Pillar collected two hits apiece for Toronto. Left fielder Josh Hamilton finished with two of Texas’ five hits.