HOUSTON (AP) — Astros starter Cristian Javier gave up three runs to the Texas Rangers in the first inning while getting just one out before being replaced Monday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.
Javier entered 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in the playoffs this year and 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA in four career postseason starts for Houston. But his struggles started immediately after he retired leadoff batter Marcus Semien on a grounder.
Corey Seager launched a fastball 440 feet into the second deck in right field for a home run. Evan Carter walked and stole second base before scoring on a single by Adolis García, which caromed off the wall in left field.
García stole second and Mitch Garver followed with a pop-fly single to left-center field. The ball bounced off the shoulder of diving left fielder Michael Brantley, allowing García to score to make it 3-0. A sharp single to left by Jonah Heim put runners at the corners, and Javier was removed by manager Dusty Baker.
Phil Maton took over and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Jose Altuve hit a leadoff double against Max Scherzer in the bottom of the first and scored on José Abreu's one-out single to cut Texas' lead to 3-1. Brantley grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners at the corners.
Coming into the night, big league teams were 3-8 in postseason history when their starting pitcher lasted less than an inning in a winner-take-all game.
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