Houston (AP) — AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel hit an RBI single in the ninth inning, while AL West champion Houston Astros defeated Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Sunday for the postseason.
Gurriel hit .319 and became Houston’s second player to win the batting title after José Altuve in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Gurriel became the Cuban-born big league batting champion after Tony Oliver in 1964, 1965 and 1971.
“That’s really important,” Gurriel said through an interpreter. “I think everyone knows it’s a big deal, and it’s hard to win a batting title, so that makes a lot of sense. It was okay anyway today …. I’m there in the end. I was able to do it, so everything went well. “
Gurriel, who played in the ninth inning as a defensive change, sent off Lou Trivino (7-8) and started innings to win Jason Castro, who finished third in the Jordan Alvarez one-out double.
Gurriel said he wasn’t ready to hit on Sunday and wasn’t swinging all day before the turn at bat, but he had a positive mindset to be hit.
“He wasn’t sitting on it,” said Houston manager Dusty Baker. He claimed to have expected Joe Espada’s bench coach in the previous inning. I will leave. “
Astros teammate Michael Brantley finished 2-0, 0.311.
Houston will proceed 95-67 and will open a Division Series at home against Central Champion Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Oakland finished nine Astros games in third place with 86-76.
Two-run home runs from Seth Brown’s Zack Greinke (the game’s second home run) and solo home runs from Khris Davis’s Blake Taylor (4-4) scored three-run nine home runs. I was surprised.
“To get into that situation, hit Homer, go back to the big league, and finish it that way, as you’ve seen him doing here many times after a tough fight. It warmed everyone’s hearts so that they could, Auckland manager Bob Melvin talked about Davis.
“I couldn’t finish the match as I expected, but it was really nice to go back to the 9th inning to finish the match, especially to hit Chris’s home run at the end. Unfortunately, we were short at the end. Did.”
Kyle Tucker gave the Astros a 4-3 lead and hit a two-run home run in the sixth, the 30th home run of the season.
Chas McCormick, Jake Mayers and Carlos Correa have added solo home runs. Altuve doubled his RBI in the 7th inning.
José Urquidy shot three runs with four hits in six innings. Urquidy allowed less than three runs in nine of the last ten starts.
Greinke, who was active from the injured list for 10 days before the match, allowed two runs with the relief of 2 1/3 innings, leaving a standing ovation.
Brown had his first career multihomer game and hit a second solo home run. Tony Kemp hit the third solo shot to the left and the fifth sacrifice fly.
Cole Irvin allowed 4 runs and 5 hits in 6 innings.
CORREA APPLAUDED
Correa, a qualified free agent, was short on the field to take his position on the field as a shortstop, but the rest of the team stopped before joining him. When Correa arrived in his position, he looked back at the bargain as the other members of the team and fans applauded him. Correa tapped her chest and pointed to the team and the crowd to respond.
Correa was removed to start the ninth inning, hugging his teammates as he left the field and capping the crowd as he left.
“Nine times, what they did there was really special that allowed me to leave the field,” Correa said. “I’m not a toucher, but I definitely wanted to cry. It’s very emotional. It was really special to me and I want to thank all my teammates and coach staff for making it happen. think.”
Trainers room
Athletics: INF Jed Lowrie, who was sprained on his right wrist on September 26 and was on the injured list, has been on a splint for four weeks, Melvin said. “I think he has a broken hairline, so he will be a splint for four weeks,” Melvin said.
next
Athletics: Opening at home for Los Angeles Angels on March 31st.
Astros: Baker said RHP Lance McCullers Jr. would probably get off to a start in Game 1.
___
Other APMLB: https: //apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports