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Given all that the Astros have been through this season, it is perhaps fitting, then, for this American League Championship Series to reach its limit.
The Rangers handed the Astros a 9-2 loss Sunday night to force a decisive Game 7 between the pugnacious in-state teams, who will meet once more Monday at Minute Maid Park, a trip to the World Series awaiting the winner.
Bryan Abreu, who is appealing his two-game suspension for hitting Adolis García with a pitch in Game 5, won his rematch with Adolis García, striking him out in the eighth inning. But García would come back for a grand slam in the ninth to put the finishing touches on the win.
The Astros certainly had their chances — bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth — but the moves that worked in Game 5 came up empty. And they've been without any real contribution on offense from Kyle Tucker all postseason.
So it's on to Game 7 and Cristian Javier vs. Max Scherzer in a repeat of Game 3, only at Minute Maid Park where postseason wins have been hard to come by for the Astros.
Houston does have another team in the postseason. The Dynamo earned a No. 4 seed and will host Real Salt Lake in a best-of-three series starting Saturday.
And it may be too early to talk postseason and Rockets, but Houston opens its season on Wednesday at Orlando. Houston looked better on defense in preseason but will find out for sure when the real games start. The Rockets will be without Tari Eason for 2-3 weeks because of a leg injury.
Stat of the day: 1-4. Houston's record at Minute Maid Park in the postseason after going 39-42 in in the regular season.
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ALCS: Astros vs. Rangers
Photo by: Jon Shapley/Staff Photographer
Home groan: Astros fall at Minute Maid again
The Rangers defeated the Astros to force a decisive Game 7 between the in-state rivals.
- Nine more innings: Astros didn't have an answer for Adolis García and will face Texas in Game 7 of ALCS with World Series on the line
- Wasted chance: Mauricio Dubón and Jon Singleton, who have had big moments, couldn't get a hit or walk in Game 6 of ALCS against José Leclerc
- Still slumping: Kyle Tucker led the America League in RBIs in the regular season but has driven in just one run in postseason and is 3-for-21 vs. Rangers in ALCS
- 'Baseball justice': Bryan Abreu whiffs Adolis García, but Rangers slugger strikes back
- Two mistakes: Framber Valdez allowed two home runs that proved to be difference in his third postseason loss this year.
- Shhh: The Rangers have one goal — to 'quiet this place' — and they've done it three times so far
- High five: A closer look at five key moments from the Astros' loss to the Rangers that forced Game 7 in the ALCS.
- Game rewind: A look back at Game 6 from start to finish.
- Game 7 preview: Houston's starter Cristian Javier has been as cool as they come in playoff starts. Now he's charged with reversing the series trend that has seen the road team win every game.
- Game 7 history: As the Astros-Rangers ALCS goes the distance, a look at Houston's Game 7 history through the years.
- Appeal: Bryan Abreu officially appealed his two-game suspension and will learn his fate within 48 hours.
- Good hands: David Lute, an Astros fan from Louisiana, made a one-handed catch in right field and got some airtime on the national broadcast
- Pit stop: José Abreu, who has been hitting well after a slow start, said he likes his family to experience as much as possible, and that includes Buc-ee's.
Rockets / NBA
Photo by: Jon Shapley, Staff Photographer
Rockets defense was better in preseason but real test awaits
Houston still has a lot to prove on the defensive end as regular season starts on Wednesday
- Sidelined: Forward Tari Eason will be out 2-3 weeks with a leg injury.
Dynamo / MLS
Photo by: Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press
Dynamo riding momentum into MLS playoffs
Houston will face fifth-place Real Salt Lake in a best-of-three series starting Saturday.
College Football
Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer
'Mighty Texas Longhorns' No. 1
Houston came close to upsetting Texas, which held on to win and kept its spot at the top of the state.
High School Football
Photo by: Kirk Sides, Staff Photographer
Atascocita's resiliency to be tested again vs. North Shore
After a rally to defeat C.E. King in overtime, Atascocita faces undefeated North Shore.
- Memorial's focus: The Mustangs are in playoff mode ahead of crucial games against Stratford and Cy-Fair left on the regular-season schedule.
- Schedule: Week 10 of Houston-area high school football action begins with games starting Thursday.
Worth a read
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