All the facts and figures to know from the Astros’ 18-inning win

The Houston Astros advanced to their sixth straight ALCS on Saturday night, securing an ALDS sweep over the Mariners with a 1-0 victory in 18 innings. The victory didn’t come easy—especially for Houston’s offense—but one big swing from rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña was enough to propel Dusty Baker’s squad past Seattle and one step closer to the World Series. 

Saturday’s victory was a historic one in many respects, with records set for strikeouts, time of game and other statistical oddities. So what do you need to know about Houston’s Game 3 victory? Check out the key facts and figures below: 

18: Houston needed 18 innings to close out the ALDS in Game 3, tying the major league record for the longest postseason game. The Astros were previously involved in what was tied for the longest playoff game ever, a 2005 contest that featured a walk-off home run to beat the Braves.

42: The Astros and Mariners combined for 42 strikeouts in Game 3 as the two offenses set an MLB record for offensive futility. Houston racked up 22 of the strikeouts in the record-setting contest, with starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. leading all pitchers with seven strikeouts. The Astros’ arms will now receive a much-needed rest before Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday. 

Luis Garcia (77) of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch during the 14th inning against the Seattle Mariners in game three of the American League Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

8: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve couldn’t replicate his usual postseason heroics on Saturday night. He failed to register a hit in eight at-bats, adding three strikeouts on the evening. As Houston moves on to the ALCS, it will look to its leadoff hitter to break out of his current slump. 

12: Peña was the hero on Saturday night, but a large share of credit goes to the Astros’ bullpen. Houston’s collection of arms tallied 12 shutout innings following starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., racking up 15 strikeouts in the process. Luis Garcia tossed five shutout innings to close the contest, and he slammed the door on Seattle in the 18th inning with two groundouts and a flyout. 

6:22 Game 3 on Saturday may have felt like an eternity, but it only lasted a meager six hours and 22 minutes. It isn’t the longest mark in MLB history–that honor goes to a battle between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves in 1920—though it certainly came close for a game in the modern era. Saturday’s matchup is the eighth-longest game by time since 1950, per MLB.com. 

1: Peña launched his first career playoff moment at the perfect time as he propelled a pitch into the left-field seats in the 18th inning. He still has a long way to go to near postseason stars Alex Bregman and José Altuve on the all-time playoff home-run list, though Saturday was certainly an auspicious start.