ALCS 2022 Recap

Story posted October 26, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Brendan Conroy

The 2022 American League Championship Series has quickly concluded, and the only team left standing on that side just punched their ticket to the World Series.

The Houston Astros have been crowned the champions of the American League once again, making it their third World Series appearance since 2017.

The opposing New York Yankees had been stellar all season winning 99 games in the regular season and making it thus far into the postseason, but stood no chance against Houston’s consistently dominant offense and high field IQ throughout the entirety of the series, falling in only four games.

Houston took the first two games at home in Minute Maid Park, and went into the Bronx with the series lead before closing out the final two games of the series in Yankee Stadium.

Games 1 and 2 were close in score, as the Yankees were able to hold the Astros to only four runs in the first game, and three runs in the second game.

Game 3 was Houston’s to win from the start, as they hopped on top with a two run lead early in the second inning, and eventually capped off their scoring in the sixth, when they scored another three runs. The Yankees were unable to find home plate in game three, as they were shutout by winning pitcher Cristian Javier and the rest of Houston’s strong bullpen.

The Yankees fell to a three game deficit, but still held their heads high as they approached game four at home in the Bronx, in Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, despite a lot of effort in the early innings, the Yankees were unable to secure the win over the Astros.

By far the most exciting game in the series, game four kicked off with an early lead for the Yankees, as they scored two runs in the first, and one in the second.

After entering the top of the third inning with a 3-0 lead, Houston brought their bats as they produced four runs in the inning, three coming off of a monster home run by Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña.

Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. was pulled from the game following Houston’s offensive explosion, but it was reported that he left the game due to injury.

On the flip side, Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres had a costly error in the seventh inning that eventually allowed for the Astros to take the lead with a go-ahead rally. From there, they never trailed the rest of the game.

The Yankees were unable to put any more runs on the board, as they fell to the Astros 6-5, sending them home for the season and out of the World Series contention. A long, dominant 99 win season, finally coming to an end.

Houston will take on the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies in a seven game series, and for the second time since 2017 be deemed: ‘World Series Champions.’

First pitch for game one is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. Friday night, and will take place in Minute Maid Park in Houston.

 

Brendan Conroy is a third-year studying in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email brc5392@psu.edu.