It took nearly two whole games to get it done, but the Houston Astros finally got the run they needed to take down the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night to win Game 3 and advance to the ALCS in the process. Neither team had managed a run in the first 17 innings, with both sets of hitters struggling to so much as get on base before Jeremy Pena broke the deadlock with a solo home run in the top of the 18th that proved to be decisive.
It was the fourth postseason game to make it to the 18th frame and it took eight minutes shy of six-and-a-half hours. The Astros swept the M’s in a hard-fought series as a result, and they will now await either the Cleveland Guardians or the New York Yankees. The Guardians have a shot to end it on Sunday following a dramatic walk off win at home on Saturday evening over the Bronx Bombers. Having led twice in a seesaw game, the Guardians fell behind by two after Harrison Bader’s home run in the top of the seventh. They wouldn’t give up, however, getting an RBI single from Amed Rosario and a two-RBI single from Oscar Gonzalez to flip the script and record a 6-5 victory that puts them on the cusp of an ALCS berth. They will now have the chance to seal the deal at home on Sunday in Game 4.
