ARLINGTON, Texas — And just like that, the 2023 ALCS is a best-of-three Lone Star State showdown.
Using the formula that worked well for them in Game 3, the Houston Astros jumped on the Texas Rangers early on Thursday night, then flexed their offensive muscles and relief pitching to keep the home team at bay in a convincing 10-3 win that knotted the series at 2-2. Whatever momentum the Rangers had after winning two games inside Minute Maid Park has evaporated as the Astros have shown the power of postseason experience over the last pair of wins.
Texas Rangers quote to know: Bruce Bochy
Perhaps it was prophetic when Texas manager Bruce Bochy answered a question about why Houston had played so well this season in Arlington, winning seven of eight combined regular-season and postseason games inside Globe Life Field.
"Seems like we make more mistakes here, to be honest," Bochy said about Houston's dominance in the Metroplex. "That's what I see. Going back and going through the games, we're just not quite executing as well."
That continued on Thursday night as Texas starter Andrew Heaney, who Bochy said was good to go for 75-80 pitches, lasted just 22 pitches and didn't make it out of the first inning. Heaney surrendered hits to the first four Houston batters and it was 3-0 before Texas could record an out.
"It was evident that Andrew was a little bit off," Bochy said. "Four hits and a walk there in the first inning, three runs. I was trying to stick with him but once he walked (Chas) McCormick, I had (Dane) Dunning ready and, where they were in the order, I was trying to keep it where it was at three runs, which Dane did."
Houston Astros quote to know: Mauricio Dubon
"For me, I'm happy to be in the lineup. I don't care where I hit," Dubon said. "I have good hitters behind me and in front of me, everywhere. It's a pretty good feeling, getting in there and executing and setting the table for those guys."
In a lineup with big names, Dubon has perhaps been one of the storylines going very under the radar this postseason for the Astros. The center fielder went 2-for-5 out of the two hole on Thursday night, scoring two runs. That performance actually lowered his postseason batting average, dropping it to .471 (8-for-17). All eight hits have been singles and he only has one RBI, but getting on base has paid dividends for Houston as he has scored three runs over the last two games, helping the Houston offense find itself once it arrived in Arlington.
The 29-year-old Dubon has certainly established himself in the Houston lineup and his hot stretch in October has allowed the lineup to be stretched even further, something that could cause problems for Rangers pitching moving forward.
Houston Astros quote to know: Yordan Alvarez
"It's very interesting," Alvarez said through an interpreter. "The other day, we were joking around, saying, 'Alright, now we came here to play our home games.'"
If you're a Rangers fan, that is the last thing you want to hear coming out of the mouth of an Astros player. However, it's hard to argue against the comfort level that Alvarez and the rest of the Astros feel when they pull into the Metroplex.
With Wednesday's win, and going back to the regular season, the Astros have won seven straight games at Globe Life Field and eight of nine games in Arlington in 2023. And the Astros aren't just winning when they beat Texas in their home ballpark. They are doing it convincingly, outscoring the Rangers 74-32 inside Globe Life Field.
While Dubon is causing havoc for Texas pitchers, it's Alvarez that has been a complete nightmare for the Rangers in this series. Alvarez was 2-for-4 with three RBI on Wednesday, boosting his slash line to .419/.457/1.065 this postseason.
For Texas to have a chance to win Game 5, they have to make Houston uncomfortable in the batter's box in their own park, and that's something they haven't figured out how to do on a regular basis yet this season.
