While not quite as dramatic as Tuesday’s walk-off homer in Game 1, Houston Astros‘ slugger Yordan Alvarez broke the Seattle Mariners‘ hearts again on Thursday.
A two-run home run late by Alvarez helped lift the Astros to a 4-2 victory in Game 2. The Astros now hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series as it shifts to Seattle for Games 3 and 4.
With the Astros trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Alvarez hit a two-run opposite-field bomb into the left-field Crawford Boxes at Minute Maid Park off Mariners’ starter Luis Castillo, putting Houston up for good.
Still nursing a one-run lead in the eighth, the Astros added some insurance. With two outs in the inning, Jeremy Pena forced a walk, leaving the Mariners with a decision to make as Alvarez lurked on deck. Ultimately, the Mariners intentionally walked Alvarez, opting to pitch to Alex Bregman instead.
The decision backfired, as Bregman laced a line drive to right field, scoring Pena.
In the ninth, Astros’ closer Ryan Pressly wiggled out of some trouble, eventually striking out Ty France for the final out.
The Astros will look to close out the series on Saturday when they travel to Seattle for Game 3, which begins at 4:07 p.m.
