Houston’s Dallas Keuchel and his relievers shut out New York and led the Astros to a 3-0 win at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday in the American League wild-card game.
Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez each homered in the opening game of this year’s playoffs, as Houston advanced to the AL Division Series against Kansas City, starting today.
Keuchel, who did not allow a run in 16 innings pitched against the Yankees in the regular season, continued that streak as he worked through six scoreless frames despite backing up on three days’ rest for the first time in his career.
Photo: AP
“Nobody really gave us anything at the start of the year. And I don’t think anybody gave us a shot at the end of the year,” said Keuchel, the AL’s only 20-game winner.
Rasmus sent Masahiro Tanaka’s first pitch of the second inning soaring into the right-field seats, while Gomez connected on the Japanese pitcher’s first offering in the fourth.
“That really settled me down, and that’s who we are,” Keuchel said. “We hit a lot of home runs, pitch well and play defense.”
Photo: USA Today
AL hits leader Jose Altuve had an RBI single off All-Star reliever Dellin Betances in the seventh to complete the scoring.
Houston reliever Tony Sipp walked one, and Will Harris and Luke Gregerson were each perfect for an inning to finish the three-hitter.
“Now we get to go to Kansas City. It’s going to be some grind-it-out baseball,” Rasmus said. “We have to come in there the way we came in tonight.”
The Yankees lost six of seven to close the regular season. Then, before working out on Monday, they learned pitcher C.C. Sabathia was checking into an alcohol rehab facility and would miss the playoffs.
Despite all the talk of a playoff reset for the struggling lineup, New York went bust against their new nemesis in Keuchel, in the Yankees’ first post-season game of the post-Derek Jeter era.
“Just didn’t get it done,” manager Joe Girardi said.
Fans taunted the bearded 27-year-old Keuchel the moment he walked to the outfield for warm-ups. Then he toyed with the Yankees from the first batter, striking out Brett Gardner.
“It’s hard not to get up for a game like this,” Keuchel said. “I’ve worked so hard the last four years in the big leagues, especially with rebuilding with our team. I knew if we had a shot, I was going to give everything I possibly could.”
When he gave up two singles in the sixth — bringing the hopeful crowd to its feet with Alex Rodriguez stepping into the batter’s box — manager A.J. Hinch walked to the mound to give Keuchel a breather. Keuchel responded by getting A-Rod to fly out lazily to center field for his final out.
“`He was as good as it gets,” Rodriguez said. “He was Greg Maddux from the left side.”
Tanaka struggled with the long ball, giving up 25 homers in 24 starts this year. He only allowed two other hits in his five innings, but matched a season worst with three walks.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely