HOUSTON - If the Astros are going to repeat as World Series champions, it will take climbing out of the 0-2 hole they dug themselves into at Minute Maid Park over the past couple of days.
The Texas Rangers took both games in Houston to start the ALCS. They return to Arlington for Game 3 having yet to lose a game this postseason.
Framber Valdez had a second consecutive poor start, being lifted after just 2.2 innings and putting the Astros at a 4-0 disadvantage early in the game. The Astros' bullpen stopped the bleeding and held the Rangers without a run, allowing Houston to creep back into the game.
But it was not enough. The Astros lost 5-4 and will need to win at least one game in Arlington later this week to ensure a return to Minute Maid Park for Game 5.
Just as bad as Valdez on Monday was the lack of timely hitting. The Astros went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base for the game. Their runs came from two solo shots by Yordan Alvarez, another by Alex Bregman, and RBI-double by Michael Brantley to score Alvarez from first base.
The Astros' most wasteful inning was in the fifth, when Michael Brantley led off with a single, Chas McCormick followed up with another, and Jeremy Pena reached on a fielding error to load the bases with no outs.
Astros manager Dusty Baker pinch-hit catcher Yainer Diaz for Martin Maldonado, but the rookie expanded the zone and struck out swinging. The Jose Altuve did the same, before a groundout by Bregman ended the once promising inning.
The Astros also left six runners on base in Game 1, going 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
If they stick with their ALDS rotation, expect Cristian Javier to start Game 3 in Arlington, with Max Scherzer on the mound for the Rangers.
