Astros’ repeat bid dashed by Texas in ALCS

HOUSTON — The lone achievement that’s escaped the Astros in their incredible run of success over the past seven seasons has been back-to-back championships, something the club pursued this year with the hopes of cementing its place as one of baseball’s greatest dynasties of the last half-century.

The Astros overcame devastating injuries and underperformance to win their sixth division title in seven years before advancing to their seventh consecutive American League Championship Series, an unprecedented run by an AL club. With a repeat championship in sight, the Astros’ inability to protect their home turf derailed their title hopes.

The Rangers, whom the Astros edged for the AL West title on the final day of the regular season, scored early and often on Monday night at Minute Maid Park and captured the AL pennant with a resounding 11-4 win over Houston in Game 7 of the ALCS, with the road team winning each game. Texas advances to its first World Series since 2011.

The loss may have been the final game for 74-year-old Astros manager Dusty Baker, who came out of retirement in 2020 and guided Houston to two pennants, including his first World Series title last year. Baker’s contract is up at the end of this season, and the Astros may choose to part ways with him, if Baker doesn’t retire.

The season ended in head-scratching fashion for the Astros, whose sudden inability to win at home sealed their fate. Houston lost 22 of its final 29 home games, including the playoffs, and became the second team in history to lose four games at home in a playoff series. The other team was also the Astros, who dropped all four games at home in a 2019 World Series loss to the Nationals.

The Rangers struck for three runs in the first inning against Astros starter Cristian Javier, a playoff hero from a year ago who recorded just one out in Game 7. Corey Seager homered with one out, and the next four batters reached against Javier, with two of them scoring. The Astros chipped away, cutting the Rangers’ lead to 4-2 with an Alex Bregman homer in the third and chasing Texas starter Max Scherzer after 2 2/3 innings.

A battle of the bullpens appeared to be in favor of the Astros, but the Rangers rocked J.P. France for four runs in the fourth to take an 8-2 lead, including a two-run single by Adolis García. He had four hits and five RBIs, including two home runs. Nathaniel Lowe’s homer in the sixth made it 10-2.

After Jose Altuve hit a dramatic three-run homer in the ninth inning to win Game 5 of the ALCS in Arlington on Friday, the Astros came home needing one win for a third consecutive trip to the Fall Classic. Texas outscored the Astros, 20-6, in Games 6 and 7 in Houston as the playoff struggles of several players, including Kyle Tucker and 2022 World Series MVP Jeremy Peña, were too much for Houston’s offense to overcome.

The Astros return much of their team intact next year and will welcome back injured starting pitchers Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr., but things may look much different in H-town next season. The Astros could have a new manager, as well as extra motivation to get back to their championship ways in 2024.