— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2019
*It's the first walk-off home run in the postseason for the Astros since Chris Burke in 2004 NLDS G4. Since 2005 WS G3, Houston is 4-0 in extra-inning playoff games.
*Aaron Boone continued to utilize the Rays' "blueprint" of throwing multiple pitchers, nine of them, to be exact, in an 11-inning game. That vaunted Yankees bullpen? 7.2IP, 3H/2ER, 11K:4BB. Houston's bullpen? 4.2IP, 1H/0ER, 5K:2BB.
The Astros faced nine Yankees pitchers in Game 2, which tied a postseason record. The Astros also faced nine Rays pitchers in the ALDS.
*The Astros took back the lead in the ever-important Projections battle, at least according to one site. FanGraphs has the Astros back to 52-48 of winning the series, with a narrow 51-49 edge in G3. FiveThirtyEight still gives a 52-48 edge to the Yankees, but another 51-49 edge to Gerrit Cole in G3.
*Hinch:
It's hard to say what it's like to go through it. We're in the second round of what could be a seven-round fight. Obviously we know what's at stake. The emotions are real out there. The intensit, our fans were incredible these two games. We're going into a crazy environment at Yankee Stadium tied 1-1.
Bregman:
There was no losing this game. We were winning this game. Everybody in this clubhouse believes in each other, and we're looking forward to going up there.
*Hinch:
This was an epic game in the playoffs with everything on the line. So obviously this has only just begun. I'm not drawing any conclusions on anything for [Boone] or for me. We're doing the best to try to put our players in the best position possible.
*Here are some facts and figures from ALCS G2.
*Aaron Judge:
It's tough. Yeah, we had a lot of chances that game, you know, we had them on the ropes basically all game and just weren't able to seal the deal. We're confident going back home, you know, splitting the series, splitting the two games here and now we have three of them in the Bronx.
*Verlander has made seven postseason starts against the Yankees: 45.1IP, 31H/12ER, 48K:13BB, 2.38 ERA / 0.97 WHIP. The home run Verlander allowed to Aaron Judge was the hardest homer he had allowed all year.
Verlander's vs Yankees in the postseason as an Astro: 22.2IP, 15H/3ER, 28K:4BB, 1.19 ERA / 0.84 WHIP.
His teams are 6-1 against the Yankees in the postseason.
Verlander needs 13 strikeouts to set the MLB Postseason record (199, John Smoltz).
*Correa:
Not playing a couple of weeks before the playoffs and then not producing for my team offensively, obviously it's tough, getting hurt and everything. But it's all worth it for moments like this, moments like this where you give your team a chance to win every day, it's worth it, man.
*Correa, who went 2x5 with 2RBI, on his walkoff:
Going into that last inning, I thought, 'I got this.' I felt like I got this. And I had the right approach against [Former Astros Great J.A. Happ]. I've been successful against him going the other way. And that's what I tried to do. I saw a good pitch down the middle, and I drove the other way.
Correa:
As soon as I hit it, I knew it was going over the fence. The adrenaline started pumping like crazy. I don't even know what I did. I've got to go watch the video. But I know I was hyped.
Bregman, on Correa:
I mean, he knew he was gonna end it when the pitching change came in. He told us. Then he did it.
Correa is the 7th player in MLB history to have multiple walk-offs in the postseason, though Correa's home run in G2 was his 1st walk-off home run in his MLB career. The last time Correa had a walkoff hit? 2017 ALCS G2 vs. New York.
On the play in the 6th that nailed DJ LeMahieu at the plate, Correa:
When it hit [Altuve], and I saw the ball go my way, I just went after it. And I grabbed it, and when I looked up and I saw he was sending the runner, I thought, 'Oh, I got this guy.' So I threw him out. I don't know why he sent him, but thank you.
*Jenny Dial Creech: Correa's swing is back. Hinch:
We've got these guys' back when they don't play well. When they do play well, we celebrate. Carlos being right in the middle of it having had the roller-coaster year, health-wise, is big for him moving forward.
*Houston was 1x10 w/RISP in Game 2. Bregman and Gurriel were each 0x2, Yordan was 0x3. In seven postseason games the Astros are 10x45 w/RISP, but they're 4-3 in October.
*George Springer hit his 12th career postseason home run. Ten of them have come from the leadoff spot, most in MLB history.
*Giancarlo Stanton was not in the lineup last night after suffering a quad strain in G1. He's day-to-day.
*There is currently a 100% chance of rain in New York on Wednesday. A rainout of Game 4 to move it to Thursday would allow the Astros to throw Greinke on normal rest, instead of Urquidy/Bullpen.
*The support person in the dugout who got hit with a Michael Brantley line drive is in the hospital in stable condition.
*Matt Young has a cool story with Jose Lima, Jr. and where the Astros fit in to his life.
*Evan Drellich, in The Athletic: MLB has lost the trust of the public over the baseballs.
*A Musical Selection:
