With home runs from Michael Brantley and Cuban José Abreu, the Houston Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Wednesday and knocked them out of the American League Championship Series.
With the victory, the defending champions won the Divisional Series 3-1 and in the next round they will face the Texas Rangers, who swept the Baltimore Orioles.
"It was a great victory," said Astros manager Dusty Baker. "This was a team win."
The Twins took the lead in the first inning with a four-corner hit by Royce Lewis against Mexican starter José Urquidy (1-0), who ended up being the winner.
Jose Urquidy's victory and the Astros continue to fight!
Mazatlan's response and Houston remains in the fight for the back-to-back championship. #ILoveBaseball pic.twitter.com/6KIeSBXWQq
But in the top of the second, the Astros tied the score with Brantley's home run in the same center field.
It was in the fourth inning when the Astros took a 3-1 lead with a single by Cuban Yordan Alvarez and a home run by compatriot Abreu against reliever Caleb Thielbar (0-1), his third home run in two days.
In the sixth, the Twins scored one run with a home run by Canadian Edouard Julien, also against Urquidy.
Closer Ryan Pressly retired the ninth inning with a perfect 1-2-3 to earn the save and send the Astros to their seventh consecutive Championship Series.
Words from José Urquidy after an important victory. ????#ReadyToReign | #Postseason pic.twitter.com/aEHpaNwpSl
Houston is going for their fifth trip to a World Series in seven seasons and their third title in the same period.
The Twins have not been to a World Series since 1991, when they defeated the Atlanta Braves. Previously, they had lost in 1987 in that same stage against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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