Category: 2021 Season

American League Division Series II

Houston Astros (2 – 95-67, .586) vs.
Chicago White Sox (3 – 93-69, .574)
Best-of-Five Series

Astros win series 3-1,
advance to their fifth consecutive ALCS

PRE-SERIES CONTENT

➤ This is Yasmani Grandal’s seventh straight postseason.

➤ Coming into the series, Dusty Baker (72) and Tony La Russa (77) have faced off as managers in 208 regular season games. Each has won exactly half, 104 games. This is the first time they have managed against each other in the postseason.

➤ These Baseball Frenemies Have Met Over 200 Times. But Rarely Like This. (New York Times, October 7, 2021)

Tony La Russa on Astros matchup and Abreu’s health

Tim Anderson on the postseason

Yaz on Astros matchup

Liam Hendriks on regular season and ALDS

Dusty Baker on Astros success and ALDS

MLB Tonight covers fifty years of La Russa and Baker

WHITE SOX ALDS 26-MAN ROSTER
AND COVID-19 TAXI SQUAD

Pitchers: Aaron Bummer, Dylan Cease, Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito, Liam Hendriks, Craig Kimbrel, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo López, Lance Lynn, Carlos Rodón, José Ruiz, Ryan Tepera. Catchers: Zack Collins, Yasmani Grandal. Infielders: José Abreu, Tim Anderson, Leury García, César Hernández, Danny Mendick, Yoán Moncada, Gavin Sheets. Outfielders: Adam Engel, Billy Hamilton, Eloy Jiménez, Luis Robert, Andrew Vaughn. COVID-19 Taxi Squad: IF Jake Burger, P Ryan Burr, P Matt Foster, P Jace Fry, IF Romy González, OF Brian Goodwin, P Dallas Keuchel, P Evan Marshall, C Seby Zavala.

ALDS II – GAME 1

White Sox 1 – Astros 6
WP: Lance McCullers, Jr. (1-0, 0.00) | LP: Lance Lynn (0-1, 12.27)
MLB Headline:
McCullers, Astros follow blueprint for a ‘W’
White Sox Postseason: 0-1 (.000), L1

First Pitch: 3:09 PM CDT | Time: 3 hours 34 minutes | Attendance: 40,497

PRE-GAME CONTENT

Lance Lynn on starting Game 1

Lance McCullers previews Game 1 start

STARTING LINEUPS

GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT

Lance Lynn throws 74 fastballs, out of 76 total pitches, to the best fastball-hitting lineup in the American League. It simply did not work. He gives up 5 R/ER on 6 H (2 BB, 4SO) in 3⅔ IP. In the 2^nd, Lynn issues a lead-off walk to Yordan Álvarez, who scores on a Jake Meyers (major league debut 08/01/2021) RBI 1B. He throws another lead-off walk, in the 3^rd, to José Altuve, who scores on an Alex Bregman RBI FC—with a risky, dramatic slide around the tag while reaching back to touch the dish. Also in the 3^rd, Alex Bregman scores on a Yordan Álvarez RBI 2B. In the 4^th, a Michael Brantley 2-RBI 1B scores Jake Meyers (singled) and José Altuve (doubled). Yordan Álvarez tops it all off with a solo shot, in the 5^th. Astros starter Lance McCullers, Jr. was dominant and in full command of his stuff, shutting out the Sox through 6⅔ (4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO). José Abreu knocks in the Sox only run, scoring Tim Anderson (singled, advanced to 2B on a Yoán Moncada walk) on an RBI 1B, in the 8^th. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

La Russa on Game 1 loss

Lance Lynn and José Abreu on Game 1 loss

Dusty Baker on Astros win

Lance McCullers on his dominant win

ALDS II – GAME 2

White Sox 4 – Astros 9
WP: Ryne Stanek (1-0, 0.00) | LP: Aaron Bummer (0-1, 81.00)
MLB Headline:
‘Big-inning team’: 5-run 7^th has Astros up 2-0
White Sox Postseason: 0-2 (.000), L2

First Pitch: 1:09 PM CDT | Time: 3 hours 52 minutes | Attendance: 41,315

PRE-GAME CONTENT

Lucas Giolito on Starting Game 2

Framber Valdez on Game 2 start

STARTING LINEUPS

GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT

The Sox come out fighting in the 1^st, with an Eloy Jiménez FC that scores Luis Robert (singled, advanced to 2B on José Abreu 1B, advanced to 3B on Yasmani Grandal HBP). In the 5^th, a Luis Robert 110.3 MPH RBI 1B scores Leury García (singled, advanced to 2B on Tim Anderson 1B), a José Abreu 1B scores Anderson (advanced to 3B on Robert 1B), and a Yasmani Grandal sac fly scores Robert (advanced to 2B on Abreu 1B, advanced to 3B on WP by Astros reliever Yimi Garcia). Lucas Giolito starts out strong, striking out three (all Ks) in the 1^st, but struggles unsuccessfully to throw another clean inning. La Russa pulls him when he walks two in the 5^th (3 H, 2 R/ER, 5 BB, 4 SO in 4⅓ IP), sending in Garrett Crochet, who walks a third to load the bases. Then Yuli Gurriel’s first hit of the series (1B) ties the game at 4. All four of Houston’s runs scored through the 5^th reach on walks. Crochet closes out the inning on a 5-3 DP. The Astros break it wide open in the 7^th. Aaron Bummer goes 1B (Altuve), K (Brantley), RBI 1B (Álvarez). Craig Kimbrel, who had been nearly unstoppable for the Cubs, but has been lousy for the White Sox, takes over. After retiring Gurriel (LO), he allows both inherited runners to score on a Carlos Correa 2-RBI double. Then Kyle Tucker slams a 2-run HR, making it 9-4 Astros. With the damage done, a Chas McCormick PO ends the inning. Liam Hendriks pitches a 1-2-3 8^th inning (2 SO). In the 9^th, a Luis Robert GO advances César Hernández (walked) and Tim Anderson (singled) to scoring position. But Kendall Graveman dashes their hopes, striking out José Abreu (swinging) on three pitches, and retiring Yasmani Grandal (FO). All 18 of the Sox hits in the first two games have been singles. Here’s hoping that the hometown crowd will bring these White Sox to life in Games 3 and 4. With 13 hits in 5 consecutive postseason games, Tim Anderson ties the MLB record he now shares with Hideki Matsui (2004), Fernando Viña (2001-02), and Will Clark (1989). TA is the *first* player to accomplish this in his *first* 5 postseason games. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Tony La Russa on Game 2 loss

Tim Anderson and Lucas Giolito on Game 2 loss

Dusty Baker on Astros Game 2 victory

ALDS II – GAME 3

Astros 6 – White Sox 12
WP: Michael Kopech (1-0, 11.57) | LP: Yimi García (0-1, 36.00)
MLB Headline:
Sox ROAR back for raucous fans, force Game 4
White Sox Postseason: 1-2 (.333), W1

First Pitch: 7:08 PM CDT | Time: 4 hours 27 minutes | Attendance: 40,288

PRE-GAME CONTENT

Dylan Cease on getting the Game 3 start

Tony La Russa on Game 3 and Dylan Cease

Rodón on possible Game 4 start—here’s hoping, Carlos!

Luis Robert looks ahead to Game 3

Luis Garcia on starting Game 3

Dusty Baker on Game 3 prep

STARTING LINEUPS

Dylan Cease starts off in command with a FO, GO, K 1^st inning, but quickly loses control in the 2^nd. In their half of the 1^st, the White Sox put up the first run on an Eloy Jiménez RBI 1B that scores Tim Anderson (leadoff 1B, advanced to 2B on a Yasmani Grandal BB). In the 2^nd, Cease issues 3 BB and gives up a 2-RBI 2B and an RBI 1B, making it 3-1 Astros. Then he walks José Altuve. Tony La Russa pulls Cease and sends in Michael Kopech, who makes the final out. Sox offense goes K, K, BB, GO. In the 3^rd, Kopech gives up a leadoff 1B, then retires the next two (SO, FC). Kyle Tucker slams a 2-run homer off Kopech before he fans Yuli Gurriel, for the third out. It’s 5-1 Astros. The momentum shifts in bottom 3^rd. First, Grandal launches a one-out, 2-run HR that scores Luis Robert (walked). 5-3 Astros. Later, Los White Sox take the lead with a 3-run homer off the bat of Leury García, the result of (presumably) the first 3-García at-bat in MLB history—midway through Leury’s at-bat, Astros starter Luis García is replaced by reliever Yimi García. Leury’s two-out slam brings home Yoán Moncada and Gavin Sheets (both singled). It’s 6-5 Sox. All hell breaks loose in the 4^th. After striking out the first two, Kopech gives up a BB, a 1B, and an RBI 1B, then strikes out Yordan Álvarez, to tie the game at 6. In bottom 4^th, Anderson, Robert, and Abreu knock three 1Bs in a row, scoring Anderson, with Robert and Abreu remaining on the corners with no outs. Sox are on top again, 7-6. Next, a disputed play that royally pissed off Dusty Baker ends with Grandal reaching on a FC (unsuccessful put out at the plate), Robert scoring on an E3 (throw from 1B deflected off the left arm of Grandal running way inside the base line), and Abreu advancing to 3B. It’s 8-6 White Sox. Next, Jiménez RBI 1B brings in Abreu, advancing Grandal to 2B. Sheets 1B loads the bases. García reachs on a FC that cuts down Grandal at home, leaving the bases loaded. But César Hernández grounds out to end the inning. That’s a total of 17 hitters with 10 reaching (both sides) in the 4^th. 9-6 White Sox. The Sox bullpen shuts down the Astros, thereafter. Ryan Tepera retires six in a row (3 SO) in the 5^th and 6^th. Aaron Bummer takes the mound in the 7^th and retires five in a row (4 SO). Craig Kimbrel makes the last out (GO on a 1-2 count) to end top 8^th. With two outs in bottom 8^th, Andrew Vaughn RBI 2B scores Moncada (singled), García RBI 2B scores Vaughn, and Anderson RBI 1B scores García. Liam Hendriks closes with LO, K, SO. Tim Anderson goes 3-for-6. He now holds the record for the most hits (16) in six consecutive postseason games in MLB history. Is that a thing?! José Abreu is HBP for the 22^nd time this season.

➤ White Sox pitching strikes out 16 Astros—a White Sox postseason record for strikeouts in a single game, and the most Astros strikeouts in a game this season (a different tally than the 16 consecutive outs made by White Sox pitching, in the 4^th–9^th – see below).

White Sox seal Game 3 win with 16 consecutive outs

In the words of A.J. Pierzinsky, “I’m not gonna say he did that on purpose, but he did that on purpose… The only thing ‘intentional’ about Grandal’s alleged interference was that he didn’t get out of the way!”

Tony La Russa on Game 3 victory over Astros

Yasmani Grandal, Dylan Cease, and Leury García on Game 3 win

Liam Hendriks on the win

Tim Anderson goes 3-for-6, has 16 hits in 6 consecutive postseason games

Dusty Baker on Astros Game 3 loss

ALDS II – GAME 4

Astros 10 – White Sox 1
WP: Yimi García (1-1, 18.00) | LP: Carlos Rodón (0-1, 6.75)
MLB Headline:
Astros romp way to fifth straight ALCS
White Sox Postseason: 1-3 (.250), L1

First Pitch: 1:08 PM CDT | Time: 4 hours 32 minutes | Attendance: 40,170

PRE-GAME CONTENT

➤ Game 4 had been scheduled for Monday, at 2:37 pm CDT, but was postponed due to rain.

Tony La Russa saying things on the day of the rainout

Dusty Baker on the series and the rainout

Astros and White Sox respond to Ryan Tepera’s thinly veiled sign-stealing accusations

STARTING LINEUPS

GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT

➤ Tim Anderson goes 0-for-4, but in Game 3 he set the MLB record for most hits in a 6-game span in the postseason—16.

➤ Astros steal four bases, a club postseason record.

The bad throwing omens begin with the first pitch of the game—José Altuve doubles off Carlos Rodón’s 93 MPH fastball to the center of the zone. Rodón fans the next three (2 K), leaving Altuve stranded. The bad hitting omens begin with Tim Anderson’s flyout off the first pitch from Lance McCullers, an 85 MPH slider. Yoán Moncada singles, then advances to 2B on a Luis Robert GO. José Abreu walks, and Yasmani Grandal strikes out swinging, leaving 2 on. Rodón allows Carlos Correa a leadoff 0-2 single, in the 2^nd, then retires the next three—all flyouts. Rookie Gavin Sheets slams a leadoff HR—his first career postseason homer and his third hit in two games. César Hernández walks. Leury García and Anderson K. Sox are ahead 1-0, after two. In the 3^rd, Rodón strikes out Martín Maldonado and hits Altuve with a 95 MPH fastball. Michael Brantley flies out. Rodón walks Alex Bregman and Yordan Álvarez, to load the bases. Correa knocks an 0-2, 2-RBI double, scoring Altuve and Bregman. It’s 2-1 Astros. Tony La Russa sends in Michael Kopech, who retires Yuli Gurriel on a 3-2 groundout, stranding Álvarez. In the Sox half, Moncada strikes out swinging, Robert singles, and Abreu grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. In the 4^th, Kopech gives up a 3-1 single to Kyle Tucker, who steals 2B and 3B. Chas McCormick grounds out. Maldonado scores Tucker on a 2-2 RBI single. Altuve singles on the first pitch. Garrett Crochet steps in, giving up the two inherited runs on a Bregman 2-RBI double, then fanning 2, leaving Bregman on. 5-1 Astros. Grandal gives the Sox their first leadoff hit, but Jiménez grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Then Sheets hits a double, García walks, and Hernández strikes out swinging, stranding two. In the 5^th, Ryan Tepera throws the White Sox only 1-2-3 inning of the game. Astros reliever Yimi García responds in-kind, retiring Anderson, Moncada, and Robert. Tepera remains in to start the 6^th. McCormick singles, then advances to 2B on a Maldonado sac bunt. Altuve pops out. La Russa sends in Aaron Bummer who gives up the inherited run on a Brantley RBI single, and strikes out Bregman. 6-1 Astros. Luis Robert leaves the game with a leg injury. Adam Engle subs in, and the Sox fall to Astros reliever Phil Maton in order—Abreu, Grandal, Jiménez. In the 7^th, Bummer allows a Guriel single, walks Correa, and retires three others, stranding two. Hernández knocks a single for the Sox, but Sheets, García, and Anderson go down (Anderson is retired by Ryne Stanek, after Dusty Baker makes a late-inning pitching change). Craig Kimbrel train wrecks in the 8^th. Maldonado grounds out, then Altuve singles on a 3-2 count and advances to 2B on an E6. Altuve advances to 3B on a wild pitch, then Brantley gets a 3-1 base hit, scoring Altuve. 7-1 Astros. Brantley steals 2B. Bregman pops out, Álvarez walks, and Correa grounds out, stranding two. Astros reliever Kendall Graveman retires Moncada (FO) and Engel (GO), then hits Abreu on a 3-2 count, sending La Russa into a lengthy tirade, that the Crew Chief graciously endures. Grandal grounds out, stranding Abreu. Not that it would have made any difference if he hadn’t, but to top off the big loss, Liam Hendriks bombs. Gurriel singles off his first pitch. Tucker reaches on a 2-2 fielder’s choice (Guriel is out at 2B). Hendriks walks McCormick and strikes out Maldonado, before Altuve smashes a 3-run homer off the first pitch—the 19^th postseason HR of Altuve’s career, tying him for 4^th of all time. Brantley singles on a 1-0 count. Hendriks strikes out Bregman, stranding Brantley. With Ryan Presley closing for the Astros, the Sox pump out a final heartbeat before flatlining—Jiménez singles, Sheets strikes out swinging, García reaches on a fielder’s choice (Jiménez is out at 2B), and César Hernández grounds out. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

In bottom 8^th, with two outs and a win already out of reach, and gentlemanly José Abreu standing calmly on 1B, Tony La Russa has a cow about Abreu’s 23^rd HBP of the season.

In the 2^nd, Astros center fielder Jake Meyers injures his shoulder jumping at the wall to grab Gavin Sheets’ smash–a move that looks eerily similar to the one that tore Eloy Jiménez’s pectoral in spring training. Meyers leaves the game.

Gavin Sheets and Carlos Rodón on ALDS loss

Tony La Russa post-game presser

Dusty Baker on winning the ALDS