{{Short description|Baseball competition}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox baseball league division series | alds = yes | image = 2023 American League Division Series logo.svg | year = 2023 | champion1 = Texas Rangers (3) | champion1_manager = Bruce Bochy | champion1_games = {{winpct|90|72|record=y}}, GB: 0 | runnerup1 = Baltimore Orioles (0) | runnerup1_manager = Brandon Hyde | runnerup1_games = {{winpct|101|61|record=y}}, GA: 2 | champion2 = Houston Astros (3) | champion2_manager = Dusty Baker | champion2_games = {{winpct|90|72|record=y}}, GA: 0 | runnerup2 = Minnesota Twins (1) | runnerup2_manager = Rocco Baldelli | runnerup2_games = {{winpct|87|75|record=y}}, GA: 9 | date1 = October 7–10 | date2 = October 7–11 | television1 = FS1 (Games 1–2)<br>Fox (Game 3) | announcers1 = Joe Davis, John Smoltz, and Ken Rosenthal | television2 = FS1 (Games 1–2 and 4)<br>Fox (Game 3) | announcers2 = Adam Amin, A. J. Pierzynski, Adam Wainwright, and Tom Verducci | radio1 = ESPN | radio_announcers1 = Karl Ravech and Tim Kurkjian | radio2 = ESPN | radio_announcers2 = Dave O'Brien (Games 1–3), Mike Couzens (Game 4), and Eduardo Pérez | umpires1 = Lance Barrett, Cory Blaser, Nic Lentz, John Libka, Alfonso Márquez (crew chief), Quinn Wolcott | umpires2 = Brian Knight, Bill Miller (crew chief), Roberto Ortiz, D.J. Reyburn, John Tumpane, Jansen Visconti | WCS = Minnesota Twins over Toronto Blue Jays (2–0)<br>Texas Rangers over Tampa Bay Rays (2–0) }} The '''2023 American League Division Series''' (ALDS) were the two best-of-five playoff series in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2023 postseason to determine the participating teams of the 2023 American League Championship Series (ALCS). These matchups were:
*(1) Baltimore Orioles (AL East champions) vs. (5) Texas Rangers (Wild Card Series winner): Rangers win series 3–0. *(2) Houston Astros (AL West champions) vs. (3) Minnesota Twins (Wild Card Series winner): Astros win series 3–1.
==Background== {{further|American League Division Series}} The top two division winners (first two seeds) are determined by regular season winning percentages. The final two teams are the winners of the American League Wild Card Series, played between the league's third through sixth-seeded teams.
The Baltimore Orioles (101–61) clinched their first postseason berth since 2016 on September 17,<ref>{{cite web|last=Rill|first=Jake|title=Playoff berth secured, O's celebrate: 'The philosophy paid off'|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/orioles-clinch-2023-mlb-postseason|website=MLB.com|date=September 17, 2023|access-date=September 17, 2023}}</ref> the American League East division title for the first time since 2014, a first-round bye, and the top seed in the AL on September 28 with a 100th win against the Boston Red Sox in a 2–0 shutout, giving them home-field advantage throughout the AL playoff.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rill|first=Jake|title='We’re not done yet': O's clinch AL East title with win No. 100|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/orioles-clinch-2023-al-east-title|website=MLB.com|date=September 28, 2023|access-date=September 28, 2023}}</ref> They played the Texas Rangers (90–72), who qualified for the postseason on September 30 and as the fifth seed wild card entrant the next day,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Kennedi |title=Rangers make 1st postseason since 2016: 'It feels so sweet' |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-clinch-2023-playoff-spot |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=MLB.com}}</ref> and swept the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Series for their first division series appearance since 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=Landry|first=Kennedi|title=Rangers click in all facets to oust Rays, reach ALDS|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-win-al-wild-card-series-2023|website=MLB.com|date=October 4, 2023|access-date=October 4, 2023}}</ref> The Orioles and Rangers split the regular season series, 3–3. The match-up was the two teams' second postseason meeting after the 2012 American League Wild Card Game, which Baltimore won.
The Houston Astros (90–72) clinched their seventh straight playoff berth on September 30,<ref>{{Cite web |last=McTaggart |first=Brian |title=After clinching playoffs for 7th straight year, Astros eye AL West title |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-clinch-2023-mlb-playoff-spot |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=MLB.com}}</ref> then clinched the American League West division title, their third consecutive divisional title, their sixth in seven seasons since 2017, and a first-round bye as the second seed the next day with a 8–1 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners 1–0 shutout win over the Texas Rangers by winning the season series against the Rangers 9–4.<ref>{{cite web|last=McTaggart|first=Brian|title=Astros seize AL West title with a win in Game 162|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-clinch-2023-al-west-title|website=MLB.com|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=October 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Snyder|first=Matt|title=Astros clinch AL West: Houston wins division title for the sixth time in seven years, pass Rangers on last day|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/astros-clinch-al-west-houston-wins-division-title-for-sixth-time-in-seven-years-pass-rangers-on-last-day/|work=CBS Sport|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=October 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McCord|first=Cory|title=AL West champs! Astros win the division on the final day of the regular season|url=https://www.khou.com/article/sports/mlb/astros/astros-playoff-update/285-66a96831-6692-4bef-aa65-1740274965db|work=KHOU|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=October 2, 2023}}</ref> Houston is looking to become the first repeat champions since the 2000 New York Yankees. They played against the Minnesota Twins (87–75), who clinched the American League Central on September 23,<ref>{{cite web |title=Twins secure third AL Central title in last 5 years |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38465721/twins-angels-clinch-al-central-title-again |website=ESPN.com |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=23 September 2023}}</ref> swept the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card Series for their first postseason game win since 2004 and their first postseason series win since 2002, and made their first division series appearance since 2019. Houston went 2–4 against Minnesota in the regular season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McTaggart |first1=Brian |title=Twins or Blue Jays? Here's who Astros fans should be rooting for |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/do-astros-want-to-face-twins-or-blue-jays-in-alds |website=MLB.com |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref> This was the second postseason match-up between Houston and Minnesota, following the 2020 American League Wild Card Series, which was won by Houston in two games. In addition, the Astros faced their former teammate and shortstop Carlos Correa in the postseason for the first time.
==Matchups== ===Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers=== {{MLB Playoff Summary | summary = | winner = Texas | leader = | score = 3–0 | date1 = October 7 | score1 = '''Texas Rangers''' – 3, Baltimore Orioles – 2 | loc1 = Oriole Park at Camden Yards | time1 = 3:09 {{small|(1:12 delay)}} | att1 = 46,450 | ref1 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Rangers 3, Orioles 2 Final Score|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-orioles/2023/10/07/748573/final/box|website=MLB.com|date=October 7, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023}}</ref> | date2 = October 8 | score2 = '''Texas Rangers''' – 11, Baltimore Orioles – 8 | loc2 = Oriole Park at Camden Yards | time2 = 3:45 | att2 = 46,475 | ref2 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Rangers 11, Orioles 5 Final Score|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-orioles/2023/10/08/748569/final/box|website=MLB.com|date=October 8, 2023|access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> | date3 = October 10 | score3 = Baltimore Orioles – 1, '''Texas Rangers''' – 7 | loc3 = Globe Life Field | time3 = 2:48 | att3 = 40,861 | ref3 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Orioles 1, Rangers 7 Final Score|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/orioles-vs-rangers/2023/10/10/748572/final/box|website=MLB.com|date=October 10, 2023|access-date=October 10, 2023}}</ref> }}
===Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins=== {{MLB Playoff Summary | summary = | winner = Houston | leader = | score = 3–1 | date1 = October 7 | score1 = Minnesota Twins – 4, '''Houston Astros''' – 6 | loc1 = Minute Maid Park | time1 = 2:58 | att1 = 43,024 | ref1 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Twins 4, Astros 6 Final Score|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-astros/2023/10/07/748568/final/box|website=MLB.com|date=October 7, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023}}</ref> | date2 = October 8 | score2 = '''Minnesota Twins''' – 6, Houston Astros – 2 | loc2 = Minute Maid Park | time2 = 3:09 | att2 = 43,017 | ref2 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Twins 6, Astros 2 Final Score|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-astros/2023/10/08/748565/final/box|website=MLB.com|date=October 8, 2023|access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> | date3 = October 10 | score3 = '''Houston Astros''' – 9, Minnesota Twins – 1 | loc3 = Target Field | time3 = 3:10 | att3 = 41,017 | ref3 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Astros 9, Twins 1 Final Score|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-twins/2023/10/10/748567/final/box|website=MLB.com|date=October 10, 2023|access-date=October 10, 2023}}</ref> | date4 = October 11 | score4 = '''Houston Astros''' – 3, Minnesota Twins – 2 | loc4 = Target Field | time4 = 2:38 | att4 = 40,977 | ref4 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Astros 3, Twins 2 Final Score|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-twins/2023/10/11/748566/final/box|website=MLB.com|date=October 11, 2023|access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> }}
==Baltimore vs. Texas== This was the second postseason meeting between Baltimore and Texas, following their 2012 American League Wild Card Game match-up, which Baltimore won.
===Game 1=== {{linescore| |Date = October 7, 2023 |Time = 2:15{{nbsp}}pm (EDT) |Location = Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland |Other = {{convert|63|F|C}}, Mostly sunny |Road='''Texas'''|RoadAbr=TEX |R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=2|R5=0|R6=1|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=8|RE=0 |Home=Baltimore|HomeAbr=BAL |H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=1|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=2|HH=5|HE=0 |WP=Dane Dunning (1–0) |LP=Kyle Bradish (0–1) |SV=José Leclerc (1) |HomeHR=Anthony Santander (1) |RoadHR=Josh Jung (1) |Attendance=46,450 |BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-orioles/2023/10/07/748573/final/box }} The game was delayed by 73 minutes due to rain.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/orioles-rangers-rain-delay-551ecd93980f2813da8c100a4e337d1a Game 1 of ALDS between Orioles and Rangers delayed by rain], AP News, October 7, 2023</ref> This was the first playoff game at Camden Yards since the 2014 ALCS. In the top of the fourth, Evan Carter doubled to score Adolis Garcia to give the Rangers a 1–0 lead. Jonah Heim then singled to score Carter to extend the lead to 2–0. In the bottom of the inning, Ryan Mountcastle doubled to score Anthony Santander, cutting the lead to 2–1. In the fifth, Austin Hays grounds into a double play off Dane Dunning to end the inning. In the top of the sixth, Josh Jung hit a solo home run to extend the Rangers lead at 3–1. In the bottom of the inning, Anthony Santander hit a solo home run to narrow the Rangers lead to 3–2. This was as close as the Orioles could get in dropping the first game of the series.
===Game 2=== [[File:Mitch_Garver_(47553987661)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Mitch Garver, pictured here with the Minnesota Twins, drives in five runs, including a grand slam in Game 2.]] {{linescore| |Date = October 8, 2023 |Time = 4:07{{nbsp}}pm (EDT) |Location = Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland |Other = {{convert|60|F|C}}, Cloudy |Road='''Texas'''|RoadAbr=TEX |R1=0|R2=5|R3=4|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=1|RR=11|RH=11|RE=1 |Home=Baltimore|HomeAbr=BAL |H1=2|H2=0|H3=0|H4=2|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=3|HR=8|HH=14|HE=0 |WP=Cody Bradford (1–0) |LP=Grayson Rodriguez (0–1) |SV= |HomeHR=Gunnar Henderson (1), Aaron Hicks (1) |RoadHR=Mitch Garver (1) |Attendance=46,475 |BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-orioles/2023/10/08/748569/final/box }} Baltimore scored first in their bottom half of the first inning as Aaron Hicks singled to score Ryan Mountcastle and Gunnar Henderson. In the second, the Rangers score five runs with a two-run double from Leody Taveras, an RBI single from Mitch Garver, an RBI single from Adolis García, and an RBI single from Jonah Heim, to take a 5–2 lead. In the top of the third, Garver hit a grand slam, giving the Rangers a 9–2 lead. In the fourth, Jorge Mateo singled to score Jordan Westburg for the Orioles, cutting the lead to 9–3. Later, Ryan Mountcastle sacrifice fly plated Mateo, making it 9–4. In the top of the fifth inning, Mitch Garver ground into a double play, scoring Leody Taveras, and extending the lead to 10–4. In the bottom half, Gunnar Henderson homered off Jordan Montgomery to make it 10–5. In the ninth inning, Marcus Semien grounded out to score Josh Jung to extend the lead to 11–5. In the bottom of the same inning, Aaron Hicks hit a three-run home run, to make the final score 11–8 and giving the Rangers a chance for the sweep Tuesday night.
===Game 3=== [[File:20170718 Dodgers-WhiteSox Corey Seager following through (2).jpg|thumb|upright=.9|Corey Seager, pictured here with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit a first-inning home run in Game 3.]] {{linescore| |Date = October 10, 2023 |Time = 8:03{{nbsp}}pm (EDT) |Location = Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas |Other = {{convert|74|F|C}}, Roof Closed |Road=Baltimore|RoadAbr=BAL |R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=1|RH=6|RE=0 |Home='''Texas'''|HomeAbr=TEX |H1=1|H2=5|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=7|HH=11|HE=0 |WP=Nathan Eovaldi (1–0) |LP=Dean Kremer (0–1) |SV= |HomeHR=Corey Seager (1), Adolis García (1), Nathaniel Lowe (1)|RoadHR= |Attendance=40,861 |BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/orioles-vs-rangers/2023/10/10/748572/final/box }} Game 3 featured Dean Kremer toeing the rubber for the Orioles and Nathan Eovaldi for the Rangers. The Rangers broke open the scoring in the bottom of the first when Corey Seager homered to stake the Rangers to a 1–0 lead. In the second inning, the Rangers blew the game open by scoring five runs and lengthening the lead to 6–0. All runs were scored with two outs as Mitch Garver's two-run RBI double scored Marcus Semien and Seager. Then Adolis García crushed a three-run home run to chase Kremer. In the top of the fifth, the Orioles got on the scoreboard when Gunnar Henderson singled to right to score Jordan Westburg and cut the Rangers lead to 6–1. Nathaniel Lowe made it 7–1 with a home run in the bottom of the sixth. José Leclerc, who came on in the top of the eighth inning to get out of a bases-loaded jam, finished the game with a perfect ninth inning. The Rangers swept the Orioles and advanced to their first League Championship Series since 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-sweep-orioles-to-win-2023-alds |title=Texas breaks out brooms, advances to ALCS for 1st time since '11 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>
===Composite line score=== 2023 '''ALDS (3–0)''': '''Texas Rangers''' beat Baltimore Orioles {{linescore| |Road='''Texas Rangers''' |R1=1|R2=10|R3=4|R4=2|R5=1|R6=2|R7=0|R8=0|R9=1|RR=21|RH=30|RE=1 |Home=Baltimore Orioles |H1=2|H2=0|H3=0|H4=3|H5=2|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=3|HR=11|HH=25|HE=0 |TotalAttendance=133,786 |AveAttendance=44,595 }}
==Houston vs. Minnesota== This was the second postseason meeting between Houston and Minnesota, following the 2020 American League Wild Card Series matchup, which Houston won in a two-game sweep.
===Game 1=== [[File:Yordan_Alvarez_(48784546838)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs in Game 1.]] {{linescore| |Date = October 7, 2023 |Time = 3:45{{nbsp}}pm (CDT) |Location = Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas |Other = {{convert|73|F|C}}, Roof Closed |Road=Minnesota|RoadAbr=MIN |R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=4|R8=0|R9=0|RR=4|RH=9|RE=0 |Home='''Houston'''|HomeAbr=HOU |H1=1|H2=0|H3=2|H4=0|H5=2|H6=0|H7=1|H8=0|H9=X|HR=6|HH=9|HE=0 |WP=Justin Verlander (1–0) |LP=Bailey Ober (0–1) |SV=Ryan Pressly (1) |HomeHR=Jose Altuve (1), Yordan Alvarez 2 (2) |RoadHR=Jorge Polanco (1), Royce Lewis (1) |Attendance=43,024 |BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-astros/2023/10/07/748568/final/box }} Game 1 provided a unique pitching matchup with Bailey Ober making his first career postseason start for the Twins, opposite of Justin Verlander making his 35th career postseason start, tied for second-most all time. In the bottom of the first inning, Jose Altuve homered off Ober on the first pitch to give the Astros a 1–0 lead, his Major League record eighth career leadoff home run in the postseason and 24th overall.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/most-career-postseason-home-runs |title=Here are MLB's postseason HR leaders |work=MLB.com |first1=Andrew |last1=Simon |first2=Sarah |last2= Langs |date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> In the third inning, Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run home run off Ober to extend the Astros' lead to 3–0. In the fifth, José Abreu singled to score Alex Bregman to extend the Astros' lead to 4–0. Chas McCormick also singled to score Yordan Alvarez to extend the Astros lead to 5–0. Verlander threw six shutout innings to post the sixth scoreless start of his postseason career, tying Madison Bumgarner and Tom Glavine for the most all-time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/history/justin-verlander-of-the-houston-astros-is-now-tied-in-baseball-history-for-the-most-scoreless-playoff-starts |title=Justin Verlander Moves into Tie Atop All-Time List After Dominant Game 1 Start |work=Sports Illustrated |first=Brady |last=Farkas |date=October 8, 2023 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> In the top of the seventh, Jorge Polanco hit a three-run home run off Hector Neris, followed shortly by a solo shot by Royce Lewis to narrow the Twins deficit to 5–4. Later, in the bottom of the inning, Alvarez hit his second home run of the game off of Caleb Thielbar to extend the Astros lead to 6–4. Bryan Abreu and Ryan Pressly combined for 2{{frac|1|3}} scoreless innings to end the game and give the Astros their 12th straight ALDS win at home.
===Game 2=== [[File:Carlos_Correa_2018.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Carlos Correa, pictured with the Houston Astros, drives in three runs, including a two-run single in Game 2.]] {{linescore| |Date = October 8, 2023 |Time = 7:03{{nbsp}}pm (CDT) |Location = Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas |Other = {{convert|73|F|C}}, Partly Cloudy |Road='''Minnesota'''|RoadAbr=MIN |R1=1|R2=2|R3=0|R4=0|R5=2|R6=0|R7=1|R8=0|R9=0|RR=6|RH=10|RE=0 |Home=Houston|HomeAbr=HOU |H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=2|H9=0|HR=2|HH=7|HE=0 |WP=Pablo López (1–0) |LP=Framber Valdez (0–1) |SV= |HomeHR=Yordan Alvarez (3) |RoadHR=Kyle Farmer (1) |Attendance=43,017 |BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-astros/2023/10/08/748565/final/box }} In the top of the first inning, Carlos Correa doubled, scoring Jorge Polanco to give the Twins the first run of the game. In the top of the second, Kyle Farmer hit a two-run homer off Framber Valdez, extending the lead to 3–0. Correa plated two more runs in the fifth with a single, allowing Michael A. Taylor and Donovan Solano to score, extending the lead to 5–0. In the seventh, Edouard Julien singled to drive in Royce Lewis to give the Twins a 6–0 cushion. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Yordan Alvarez hit his third home run of the series off Brock Stewart to give the Astros their only runs of the game. Jhoan Durán closed out the victory for the Twins for their first victory in an ALDS game since Game 1 of the 2004 American League Division Series. The Astros saw their 12-game home winning streak in the ALDS snapped as this was also their first loss in a Game 2 of the LDS since 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carlos Correa stars against former team as Twins beat Astros in Game 2 to tie ALDS |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/10/08/minnesota-twins-win-alds-game-2-even-series-vs-houston-astros/71115466007/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |work=USA TODAY}}</ref>
===Game 3=== [[File:Jose_Abreu_on_deck_circle_at_Minute_Maid_2014.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|José Abreu, pictured with the Chicago White Sox, hit two home runs in Game 3.]] {{linescore| |Date = October 10, 2023 |Time = 3:07{{nbsp}}pm (CDT) |Location = Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota |Other = {{convert|54|F|C}}, Sunny |Road='''Houston'''|RoadAbr=HOU |R1=4|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=1|R7=0|R8=0|R9=3|RR=9|RH=14|RE=0 |Home=Minnesota|HomeAbr=MIN |H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=1|HH=3|HE=1 |WP=Cristian Javier (1–0) |LP=Sonny Gray (0–1) |SV= |HomeHR= |RoadHR=José Abreu 2 (2), Alex Bregman (1), Yordan Alvarez (4) |Attendance=41,017 |BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-twins/2023/10/10/748567/final/box }} Sonny Gray took the mound for the Twins while the Astros countered with Cristian Javier. The Astros struck early off Gray, putting up four runs in the top of the first, punctuated by a José Abreu three-run homer. Alex Bregman added to the lead in the fifth inning with a solo shot, marking the first time since September 24, 2021 that Gray had given up multiple home runs in a game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gray slowed by tone-setting homer that ends astonishing streak |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/sonny-gray-home-run-sweeper-alds-game-3 |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=MLB.com}}</ref> After the next two batters reached base, he was taken out of the game, having given up four earned runs with six strikeouts in four innings of work. Javier threw five scoreless innings, striking out nine and walking five, marking his third straight scoreless postseason start. Bregman struck again in the sixth with an RBI single, but the Twins answered back in the bottom of the inning, with a Willi Castro RBI single off Hunter Brown to score Carlos Correa. Jeremy Peña made a crucial diving stop to turn an inning-ending double play and keep the game at 6–1. The Astros closed the scoring in the ninth inning with home runs by Yordan Alvarez (his fourth of the series) and Abreu, his second of the game, capping a 9–1 victory and putting the Astros one game away from their seventh straight ALCS.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2023-10-11 |title=Astros pound Sonny Gray to grab 2-1 ALDS lead over Twins |url=https://nypost.com/2023/10/10/astros-pound-sonny-gray-to-grab-2-1-alds-lead-over-twins/ |access-date=2024-01-23}}</ref>
Alvarez was 6-for-12 with six RBI and 20 total bases in the first three LDS games. Per OptaSTATs, Alvarez joined Reggie Jackson as the only players in history to hit at least four home runs and six extra-base hits within a three-game span of a postseason.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McTaggart |first=Brian |title=Yordan and Reggie Jackson are on a postseason list by themselves |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yordan-alvarez-slugging-at-historic-clip-in-2023-alds |date=October 11, 2023 |access-date=October 11, 2023 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>
===Game 4=== [[File:Ryan Pressly on April 5, 2013.jpg|thumb|upright=.7|Ryan Pressly, pictured here with the Minnesota Twins, struck out the side in the ninth for the save in Game 4.]] {{linescore| |Date = October 11, 2023 |Time = 6:07{{nbsp}}pm (CDT) |Location = Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota |Other = {{convert|57|F|C}}, Clear |Road='''Houston'''|RoadAbr=HOU |R1=0|R2=1|R3=0|R4=2|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=5|RE=0 |Home=Minnesota|HomeAbr=MIN |H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=2|HH=3|HE=0 |WP=José Urquidy (1–0) |LP=Caleb Thielbar (0–1) |SV=Ryan Pressly (2) |HomeHR=Royce Lewis (2), Edouard Julien (1)|RoadHR=Michael Brantley (1), José Abreu (3) |Attendance=40,977 |BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-twins/2023/10/11/748566/final/box }} The Astros tabbed José Urquidy with starting Game 4 while Joe Ryan was tasked to try and extend the Twins season and send the game back to Houston. Royce Lewis started the Twins' scoring with a solo shot in the first. The home run was his fourth of the postseason, tying Kirby Puckett for most home runs in a single Twins postseason. The Astros answered back in the bottom of the frame with a Michael Brantley solo home run to tie it. José Abreu broke the tie in the fourth with a two-run homer off of Caleb Thielbar, his third of the series. Edouard Julien shortened the gap in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to bring the Twins within one, but Hector Neris struck out Max Kepler to end the threat. Urquidy threw 5{{frac|2|3}} innings, striking out six while giving up two runs over three hits. Ryan Pressly shut the door on the Twins, striking out the side for his second save to preserve the Astros' 3–2 victory and win the series. For the Astros, it was their American League record seventh consecutive ALCS while the Twins lost their seventh straight ALDS.<ref>[https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-win-al-division-series-2023 Astros seal 7th straight ALCS trip to set up big-time Texas duel], MLB.com, October 12, 2023</ref>
===Composite line score=== 2023 '''ALDS (3–1)''': '''Houston Astros''' beat Minnesota Twins {{linescore| |Road=Minnesota Twins |R1=2|R2=2|R3=0|R4=0|R5=2|R6=2|R7=5|R8=0|R9=0|RR=13|RH=25|RE=1 |Home='''Houston Astros''' |H1=5|H2=1|H3=2|H4=2|H5=3|H6=1|H7=1|H8=2|H9=3|HR=20|HH=35|HE=0 |TotalAttendance=168,035 |AveAttendance=42,008 }}
==See also== *2023 National League Division Series
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.mlb.com/postseason Major League Baseball postseason schedule]
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