SAN DIEGO (AP) — George Springer broke a tie with a two-run homer, José Altuve additionally went deep and hit an RBI double, and Zack Greinke escaped a bases-loaded jam for the Houston Astros, who beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-Three on Wednesday evening to remain alive within the AL Championship Sequence.

With Altuve atoning for his poor protection this collection, the Astros lastly bought their offense going after being pushed to the brink of a sweep. Looking for their third pennant in 4 seasons, they path 3-1 going into Recreation 5 on Thursday afternoon.

The Rays stay one win from going to the World Sequence for the second time in franchise historical past.

“I’m simply glad that we received the sport and on till tomorrow,” Springer stated.

Greinke, bothered by a sore arm within the Division Sequence in opposition to Oakland, made just one massive mistake when he allowed a two-run homer to rookie slugger Randy Arozarena that tied the sport at 2 within the fourth.

Given a 4-2 lead by Springer’s homer within the fifth, Greinke’s greatest pitch got here when he struck out Mike Brosseau on a 3-2 changeup to finish the sixth with the bases loaded.

After Greinke allowed consecutive singles by Manuel Margot and Austin Meadows with one out, supervisor Dusty Baker got here out for a chat and determined to let the veteran right-hander proceed. Arozarena struck out on a check-swing and Ji-Man Choi singled to load the bases earlier than Greinke fanned Brosseau.

On Friday evening, Brosseau hit a go-ahead homer within the eighth inning off Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees that carried the Rays to a 2-1 victory within the Recreation 5 clincher of the ALDS.

Greinke held the Rays to 2 runs and 5 hits in six innings for his first postseason win since 2015. He struck out seven and walked one.

Astros rookie Cristian Javier pitched two innings of one-hit reduction earlier than strolling Ji-Man Choi to open the ninth. Ryan Pressly got here on and bought an out earlier than Willy Adames hit an RBI double off the underside of the left-center wall. Pressly bought rookie Yoshi Tsutsugo on a fly to proper for the save.

Rays towering right-hander Tyler Glasnow additionally went six innings, permitting 4 runs and eight hits whereas putting out 5 and strolling two.

Altuve hit a solo homer within the first and an RBI double within the third for a 2-Zero lead. His offense helped make up for his three errors that helped the Rays win Video games 2 and three to maneuver to the cusp of their first World Sequence since 2008.

Altuve homered for the second straight recreation and third time this collection, all within the first inning. He and Springer are tied for essentially the most homers in Astros postseason historical past, 18.

Altuve drove a 1-Zero pitch from Glasnow to left simply after the Rays turned a 3-6-Three double play.

Altuve doubled into the right-field nook with two outs within the third to herald Martin Maldonado, who drew a leadoff stroll and superior on Springer’s grounder.

Arozarena homered onto the decrease balcony on the Western Steel Provide Co. brick warehouse within the left-field nook with one out within the fourth to tie the sport at 2. An inning later, Springer one-upped him when he hit a two-run shot onto the higher balcony of Petco Park’s predominant landmark to regain the lead for the Astros.

“I knew it was a homer. I used to be capable of hit a excessive fastball there. It’s a decent line, so I’m glad that it stayed honest,” Springer stated.

It was the third of the postseason for Springer, the MVP of the 2017 World Sequence.

It was the fifth of the postseason for Arozarena, who homered in every of the primary three video games in opposition to the Yankees after which related within the ALCS opener.

THE VILLAINS

The Astros stay villains in many individuals’s eyes for his or her sign-stealing scandal three years in the past. On Wednesday evening, somebody with a megaphone on a balcony on a close-by constructing heckled members of the 2017 staff by title: “Carlos Correa. You’re a cheater. Disgrace on you. Josh Reddick. You’re a cheater. Disgrace on you,” and so forth.

THE CUBAN ROCKET

Arozarena’s 19 hits are the fourth-most by a rookie in a single postseason and his 9 extra-base hits are essentially the most in Rays postseason historical past. Nicknamed “The Cuban Rocket,” Arozarena defected from Havana to Mexico in 2015 and signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. He made his massive league debut final yr and was traded to the Rays within the offseason.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Gold Glove CF Kevin Kiermaier was out of the lineup with a bruised left hand after being hit with a pitch in Tampa Bay’s five-run sixth inning Tuesday evening. Supervisor Kevin Money stated Kiermaier can be accessible to hit if crucial.

Springer, Altuve homer to maintain Astros alive in ALCS initially appeared on NBCSports.com