NEW YORK (AP) – It will be the Houston Astros against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series.
The Astros have advanced by knocking off the New York Yankees 3-0 in the wild card game in the Bronx. Dallas Keuchel (KY’-kuhl) worked six shutout innings and the Astros hit a pair of solo homers in their first postseason victory since Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
Keuchel was in command most of the night despite pitching on three days’ rest. The 20-game winner gave up just three singles and a walk while fanning seven. He got into trouble just once, when he put runners on first and second with two out in the sixth before getting Alex Rodriguez to hit a soft fly ball to center field.
Keuchel never gave up a run in 22 innings against the Bombers this season. He allowed just nine hits and a walk in 16 innings during his two starts versus the Yanks in the regular season.
Colby Rasmus put the Astros ahead to stay with a second-inning homer before Carlos Gomez went deep off starter Masahiro Tanaka (mah-sah-HEE’-roh tah-NAH’-kah) in the fourth. Tanaka allowed two other hits in his five innings of work, but the Yankees couldn’t touch Houston’s bullpen.