Verlander anchors Astros: 'Why he is a HOFer'

HOUSTON -- The Astros rapidly ran retired of superlatives successful describing Justin Verlander's show successful their 4-2 triumph implicit the New York Yankees successful Game 1 of the American League Championship Series connected Wednesday night.

Echoes of "first-ballot Hall of Famer," "workhorse" and "ace" were heard passim the Astros clubhouse aft Verlander struck retired 11 batters implicit six innings and allowed lone 1 earned run.

But what genuinely differentiated his show was the information that the 39-year-old Verlander was not initially sharp, coming disconnected 1 of the worst postseason outings of his illustrious career, having allowed six runs connected 10 hits successful the archetypal crippled of the part bid against the Seattle Mariners.

The Astros managed a comeback triumph against Seattle with a three-run, walk-off location tally by slugger Yordan Alvarez, with Verlander notably showing rust and deficiency of command. Even so, it was nary astonishment to catcher Martin Maldonado that his ace rapidly returned to signifier erstwhile helium was needed most.

"This is precisely what I expected from him," Maldonado told ESPN. "That is wherefore helium is simply a Hall of Famer."

"He's not lone physically strong, which you tin see, but he's mentally strong," manager Dusty Baker added successful praise of Verlander. "This guy, helium has intelligence toughness. When he's down and retired and it looks similar you got him successful trouble, I mean, this guy, helium tin dial it up."

While the Astros fell down successful the 2nd inning Wednesday nighttime aft Harrison Bader tagged him with a solo shot, Verlander bounced back, retiring the past 11 Yankees helium faced successful a row, with 9 punch-outs.

Verlander's 11 full strikeouts gave him the eighth double-digit strikeout crippled of his postseason career, mounting an MLB record. Verlander besides became the caller postseason strikeout king, mounting a large league grounds with 219 vocation strikeouts successful the playoffs, surpassing Clayton Kershaw's 213.

"I deliberation you saw what a existent Hall of Fame pitcher's made of tonight," chap starter Lance McCullers Jr. said. "He had a pugnacious commencement successful the DS. You don't person to bushed astir the bush; it wasn't a large start. I cognize helium wanted to bash better. ... You saw him enactment each week. He felt similar helium had immoderate adjustments to make, and helium made the adjustments. ... In a bid wherever there's lone 1 off-day, him being capable to springiness america six astonishing innings, speaks volumes for who helium is arsenic a pitcher and a competitor."

The Yankees finished the crippled with 17 strikeouts, tied for the 2nd astir successful a nine-inning crippled successful postseason history. With the Astros striking retired lone twice, their differential of 15 strikeouts became the largest successful a azygous crippled successful postseason history.

"He gave america precisely the benignant of show we needed, and I consciousness that I accidental that each the clip astir Verlander," said Jose Altuve, who is stuck successful the longest postseason slump of his vocation astatine 0-for-19. "This was a immense triumph for us, alongside our bullpen, which has been exceptional each season. He acceptable the code and allowed america to triumph the archetypal game, which is precise important successful a pugnacious bid similar this one, and against a large squad similar the Yankees."

Verlander improved to 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA successful 9 vocation postseason starts against the Yankees. This was Verlander's 15th vocation postseason win, tying Hall of Famer John Smoltz for 2nd all-time (Andy Pettitte leads with 19).

The Astros improved to 10-5 all-time successful postseason play against New York, including a 7-1 grounds astatine Minute Maid Park.