Yordan Álvarez went yard two times on the day and also knocked in three runs. One of the Cuban slugger’s longballs being a key solo-shot in the seventh inning to give the Astros some breathing room in their 6-4 win over the Twins to open their ALDS series with a 1-0 advantage.
Álvarez now has eight longballs in 167 postseason at-bats. José Abreu by his own right added a run-scoring single in the fifth inning to also help the cause. The infielder is now hitting .323 in his career for the playoffs.
Middle middle? He don't miss. pic.twitter.com/qlkZDAZ730
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 7, 2023
Although the Orioles fell to the Texas Rangers in the first game of their ALDS series Cionel Pérez was marvelous in relief, one of them being his countrymen Adolis García. In his appearance in a playoff series the lefty from Matanzas, Cuba was simply dominant with a blazing fastball that reached 99 MPH of the radar.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr drove in a run via a second inning double to do his part in Arizona’s 11-1 thrashing of the Dodgers in Game 1 of their NLDS series. The youngest of the Gurriel clan who is seeing his first action in the playoffs came up big in a key three-run second inning that gave the DBacks an insurmountable lead.
Lefty to face Yordan? When will they learn. pic.twitter.com/8tENnEC4Gg
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 7, 2023
Cuban action on the night:
Yordan Álvarez (HOU) 3-2,2HR,3RBI, 3R
José Abreu (HOU) 3-1,RBI
Cionel Pérez (BAL) 0.2IP,0H,0ER,BB,2K
Adolis García (TEX) 5-1,2B,R
Aroldis Chapman (TEX) 1.0IP,0H,0ER, 2BB,K
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) 1.0IP,0H,0ER,K
Nick Castellanos (PHI) 4-0*
J.D. Martínez (LAD) 3-0*
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI) 5-1,2B,RBI
* Cuban-American