Astros vs. Rays score: Houston evens ALCS with Game 6 win, joins 2004 Red Sox in playoff record book

The Astros are just the second team in MLB history to erase a 3-0 series deficit

The Houston Astros defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in Friday night's Game 6 of the American League Championship Series by a 7-4 score, staving off elimination for a third consecutive day and forcing a decisive Game 7 on Saturday. The winner will take the pennant and will advance to the World Series, where they'll meet the Atlanta Braves or the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Game 6's pivotal frame proved to be the fifth. Rays ace Blake Snell entered hoping to preserve a 1-0 lead, but was lifted after allowing a walk and a single to begin the inning. Snell was visibly unhappy with manager Kevin Cash's decision to remove him from the game in favor of reliever Diego Castillo. He ostensibly grew less happy as Castillo then gave up the lead.

By the time the fifth inning moved to the bottom portion, the Astros were up by a 4-1 margin thanks to a timely bunt by Martin Maldonado and big hits from George Springer, Jose Altuve, and Carlos Correa. You can read more about Snell's reaction and the fifth inning here.

Here are three other things to know about Game 6.

1. Astros join 2004 Red Sox in history books

Historically speaking, falling behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven series all but guarantees that the team will lose the series. The exception -- singular -- in baseball history has been the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who overcame a 3-0 deficit against the New York Yankees to win the pennant. Every other team to find themselves in Boston's cleats -- all 37 of them -- lost the series.

What's more is that all 37 of those teams fell without forcing a Game 7. The Astros, then, by virtue of reaching Game 7 have joined a select class of teams.

It's to be seen whether the Astros can advance to the World Series on Saturday, but perhaps it's encouraging to them that those Red Sox went on to win the championship. 

2. Valdez is nails, again

The Astros wouldn't be in this position without left-hander Framber Valdez, who turned in another good outing.

Valdez entered the night having appeared three times this postseason. In those outings, he had thrown 18 innings and held opponents to four runs on 11 hits and seven walks. He'd struck out 17 of the 67 batters he had faced.

On Friday, Valdez added to his October statline by holding the Rays to a run on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out nine of the 23 batters he faced, and he even overcame an odd scene late in his appearance. 

In the sixth, Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz caused a ruckus after being walked, seemingly in response to Valdez throwing his curveball instead of challenging him with a fastball. Astros shortstop Carlos Correa then delivered an impassioned pep talk to Valdez, who then coerced an inning-ending double play. 

3. Rays bullpen breaks

The Rays have asked their relievers for a lot this postseason as part of a strategy that has them averse to the third-time-through penalty. Their relievers have, in turn, delivered almost every night.

That changed on Friday, with Castillo becoming the first Rays reliever to allow an inherited runner to score. Previously, they had stranded all 21, according to The Athletic's Jayson Stark.

Rookie Shane McClanahan, who entered in relief of Castillo, then allowed the Astros to gain further separation. McClanahan gave up three runs on five hits over 1 2/3 innings.

The Rays will have to hope their bullpen is back to form on Saturday. Otherwise, they'll become known as the second team to ever blow a 3-0 lead in baseball history.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:10 pm ET · Dayn Perry]

There will be a Game 7. Astros become just the second team to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0. The other team, the 2004 Red Sox, of course went on to win that Game 7.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:09 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

yep, they are looking at it. No reason not to

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:08 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

possible review coming, but he's out at first

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:08 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

oh man, Altuve almost threw that way. Double play ends the game

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:08 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Brosseau hits into a game-ending double play. There will be a Game 7. Wow.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:06 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Tsutsugo finds a hole. The tying run is on deck. It is Randy Arozarena.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:02 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

as noted, the Rays getting it down to three is impacting a potential Game 7

[Oct 16, 2020 at 10:00 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Pressly coming in for the third straight day.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:59 pm ET · Dayn Perry]

Astros are still 96.9 percent to win this one. That figure will go down if they don't add any insurance in the top of the ninth.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:53 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

the Rays sending this to the ninth at 7-4 might be a big impact on Game 7 (assuming they don't come back to win)

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:52 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

more HR in this game than he had all regular season

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:52 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Margot, wow

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:49 pm ET · Dayn Perry]

Morton of course spent 2017 and 2018 with the Astros.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:43 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Bregman is 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and two double plays. Ouch.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:42 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Three straight strikeouts and the Astros did not score. That was pretty bad. Javier coming in for the eighth.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:30 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

The Astros have the bases loaded with no outs. They would do well to really bust this one open here. Save Javier, save Pressly, cruise to a stress-free win.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:28 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

not necessarily in that order

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:27 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

so the Rays set up tomorrow with Morton - Glasnow - Fairbanks - Anderson?

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:18 pm ET · Dayn Perry]

Arozarena has been carrying the TB offense in this series, but he came up short in a big spot there.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:18 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Arozarena grounds out. That's that.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:15 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Two on and two outs for Arozarena. This is Tampa's chance.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:08 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

7-2, not 7-1.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:08 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Scrubb now walks Adames. Astros still up 7-1 but a suboptimal start to the seventh inning.

[Oct 16, 2020 at 9:06 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

One homer for Margot in the regular season. Now four in the postseason. Go figure.