ATLANTA (AP) — Time and time once more, the Houston Astros clogged the bases.
A lot visitors, it seemed just like the infamous congestion on the Downtown Connecter that drives Atlanta commuters loopy.
Just for the Astros, hardly anybody ever acquired residence.
Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve all had their probabilities Saturday night time. However an enormous hit as soon as once more eluded the Astros they usually fell to Atlanta 3-2 in Sport 4 of the World Series, leaving them one loss from elimination.
Supervisor Dusty Baker even tried a novel strategy together with his lineup. He put good-hitting pitcher Zack Greinke within the eighth spot, forward of catcher Martín Maldonado -- the one different time in World Series play {that a} pitcher didn’t bat ninth was in 1918, with a Crimson Sox lefty named Babe Ruth.
Greinke got here via with a single, too.
However ultimately, it didn’t matter. Bases loaded, runners on the corners, second and third — irrespective of the state of affairs, the outcome didn’t change.
The crew that led the majors in hitting this season, a membership filled with All-Stars and the 2 high hitters within the AL batting race, couldn’t come via within the clutch.
Houston completed 0 for 8 with runners in scoring place, most of that within the early innings, and wound up stranding 11.
And identical to that, the solidly favored Astros can get knocked out in Sport 5 Sunday night time.
Blanked 2-0 the earlier night time, Altuve and the Astros got here out swinging.
Altuve led off with an infield single on the primary pitch of the sport, and the Astros then loaded the bases with one out in opposition to rookie Dylan Lee. Correa had his probability in opposition to reliever Kyle Wright however might solely handle a smooth RBI grounder and Kyle Tucker struck out.
The Astros did not money in once they had two on and one out within the second, with third baseman Austin Riley making a diving catch on Altuve’s smash down the road. Greinke grounded out with the bases loaded to finish the third.
Altuve homered within the fourth for a 2-0 lead. However by the point pinch-hitter Marwin Gonzalez lifted a routine fly with runners on the corners to finish the fifth, it was clear the missed probabilities might simply come again to hang-out them on Halloween eve.
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