Back-to-back, and the Sox are right back in it. pic.twitter.com/vK0V5rtZ9O
— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2021
Astros vs. White Sox score: Houston cruises to ALDS Game 1 victory behind Lance McCullers Jr., Yordan Alvarez
Houston scored early and often against Chicago starter Lance Lynn
The Houston Astros defeated the Chicago White Sox 6-1 in Game 1 of their best-of-five American League Division Series on Thursday evening. The Astros are now two wins away from securing a fifth consecutive trip to the AL Championship Series.
The Astros scored early and often, jumping ahead by a 1-0 margin in the second on a Jake Meyers single. Houston tacked on two more in the third, including one on a Yordan Alvarez double that narrowly missed clearing the wall. Alvarez did get his home run later, launching a solo shot in the fifth to push Houston's lead to 6-0.
On the run prevention side of things, the Astros were paced by starter Lance McCullers Jr. whose performance said: no Justin Verlander? No problem. McCullers held the White Sox to just four hits over 6 2/3 shutout innings. He threw 62 of his 104 pitches for strikes in recording his first no-walk start of the season, and he racked up a 12-to-2 ground-to-fly ball ratio. McCullers generated nine whiffs on 39 swings, including four on his new slider.
Now, for three takeaways from Houston's Game 1 win.
1. Lynn's woes with Houston continue
McCullers' counterpart, Lance Lynn, didn't have nearly as much fun. The White Sox starter was yanked in the fourth inning after yielding five runs on six hits and two walks. (He struck out four.) Lynn's recipe for success is and has been locating his fastball variations. Unfortunately for Lynn, the Astros seem to enjoy what he cooks up.
Lance Lynn threw 76 pitches. 74 of them were fastballs (97.4%), the highest fastball rate by any starting pitcher in a playoff game in the pitch tracking era (since 2008).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 7, 2021
The Astros hit .290 against fastballs in the regular season, best in MLB. pic.twitter.com/tddi5VVZyE
Dating back to 2018, Lynn has accumulated a 6.36 ERA and has allowed 63 hits in 52 innings against Houston. What's more is that the Astros' .761 regular-season OPS against Lynn is his fourth-worst mark against any team (minimum five appearances), behind only the Pirates, Orioles, and Marlins.
Lance Lynn's outing today inflated his ERA against the Astros to 6.36 since the 2018 season. He's allowed 63 hits in 52.1 innings in that span.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 7, 2021
Depending on how the series goes, Lynn may well get another shot at vindication versus Houston. He could return for a decisive Game 5.
2. Alvarez crushes
We would be remiss if we didn't give Yordan Alvarez -- or, more specifically, Yordan Alvarez's home runs -- some additional love. Take a look at this blast:
24 of Yordan Alvarez's 34 HR this season have gone 400+ ft. pic.twitter.com/8euEF2nyMo
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 7, 2021
According to Statcast, Alvarez's home run had a 104.8-mph exit velocity and carried some 411 feet. Alvarez was unable to play in the postseason last year due to a knee injury. If he keeps this up, he'll have more than atoned for lost time.
3. Game 2 on Friday
Neither side will have to wait long to get back on the horse. ALDS Game 2 is scheduled to take place on Friday at 2:07 p.m. ET. Framber Valdez will get the ball for the Astros while Lucas Giolito attempts to keep the White Sox in this series before it shifts to Chicago.
Relive Houston's Game 1 win with our live blog from Thursday's game.
Live updates
Classic Kiermaier. pic.twitter.com/a7hiZRYfJN
— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2021
that’s mr. baz to you pic.twitter.com/eoGJRfikIb
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 8, 2021
The Rowdy Tellez game ™️#ClawsUpMKE pic.twitter.com/GAQg0MFI4l
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 8, 2021
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
Jordan Luplow hit the 2nd grand slam in @Raysbaseball #postseason history (Hunter Renfroe, 2020 AL Wild Card Series Game 2). pic.twitter.com/dTvA6NNaY2
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 8, 2021
#ClawsUpMKE!
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
The Brew Crew takes Game 1. #Postseason pic.twitter.com/mCnSijYRVK
JORDAN 4s.
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
Luplow with a 1st-inning slam! pic.twitter.com/D02cuVGy0I
For the first time in #postseason history, two teams with 105+ wins will play each other.
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 8, 2021
Who comes out on top? pic.twitter.com/1jNZ8Me3pN
First inning fun for the @RedSox. pic.twitter.com/CfwPhEwus2
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
Joctober is back!
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
The Braves cut the deficit to 1. pic.twitter.com/sFLUVLWT2K
Burnes baby Burnes. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gQjmEVJzLa
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
let’s! get! a little bit rowdy!
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 8, 2021
R-O-W-👏👏-D-Y pic.twitter.com/y1SQs01ptc
It's time for ALDS Game 2 between the Rays and the Red Sox!
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
Watch the top of the first inning here and the remainder of the game on FS1! https://t.co/UVlwa5rDsY
The Astros win in October. That's a fact.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/iIkdIjNeZT
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 8, 2021
Rowdy!!! pic.twitter.com/ZgTjv8HiBz
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
The #Rays (Shane McClanahan and Shane Baz) are the second @MLB team ever to have rookies start Games 1 and 2 of a postseason series (2012 Athletics: Jarrod Parker and Tommy Milone). pic.twitter.com/D62FfqkzCE
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 8, 2021
It's Rowdy in Milwaukee!! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/zGPhMS5ECx
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
The historic rivalry between the @SFGiants and @Dodgers is about to go to a whole new level. #MakeItMajor pic.twitter.com/59fY9CBTI7
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
.@Burnes16 is the 2nd pitcher in @Brewers #postseason history to go 6+ scoreless innings (Mike Caldwell 1982 World Series, Game 1). pic.twitter.com/BwAdcJunNA
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 8, 2021
Treat him like royalty. 👑
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 8, 2021
Today's @budweiserusa Player of the Game!#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/t5cf0EEdxQ
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2021
JAZZ! 🎷 @j_chisholm3 pays a visit to our #BreakthroughSeries squad in Florida. pic.twitter.com/OpYWv9SHJI
— MLBDevelops (@MLBDevelops) October 8, 2021
Charlie is DEALING.#BattleATL pic.twitter.com/PLwjTkxRPJ
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 8, 2021
Showed 'em how we do it in H-Town. 🤘#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/Ol1FxXLdOU
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 8, 2021
We got business to take care of in Chicago.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/Ty8yymsikd
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 8, 2021
Logan Webb gets his first taste of the #postseason vs the experienced Walker Buehler. pic.twitter.com/uxHENTLvhU
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 8, 2021
Refuse to lose.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/abblHcOWix
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 8, 2021
Final: pic.twitter.com/hsLxesUYSp
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 8, 2021
Winners win.
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 8, 2021
Final: #Astros 9, White Sox 4 pic.twitter.com/OsAGRvVzZx