ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston manager Dusty Baker and third baseman Alex Bregman really have no explanation for why the Astros have been so good in that other retractable-roof stadium in Texas.
“I have no clue, to be honest with you,” Bregman said. “But I think the focus has been really good in that clubhouse.”
They do know the 250-mile trip north and another big-scoring road game against the Rangers has pulled Houston even in the AL Championship Series.
José Abreu hit a three-run homer right after Yordan Alvarez’s go-ahead sacrifice fly, and the Astros rolled to a 10-3 victory in Game 4 on Thursday night. They led 3-0 only four batters into the game, and responded immediately after Texas tied it on Corey Seager’s opposite-field homer in the third inning.
Adolis García also homered for the wild-card Rangers, who have dropped two games in a row at home after starting this postseason with seven consecutive wins — six on the road. That included sweeps of the AL’s two winningest teams, Baltimore and Tampa Bay.
“Nobody thought it was going to be easy,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “(The Astros) have played very well in this ballpark. We need to change that.”
Game 5 is Friday afternoon at Globe Life Field, where the defending World Series champion Astros are 8-1 this season. The home team has yet to lead in this ALCS, which switches back to Houston for Game 6 on Sunday night.
“They keep asking me that same question,” Baker said about his team’s success in Arlington. “I’ve got the same answer: I don’t know.”
Jose Altuve had three hits in his 100th career postseason game and scored three runs for a record sixth time. Alvarez drove in three, giving him 13 RBIs already this postseason, and Chas McCormick added a two-run homer.