The Texas Rangers opened the American League Championship Series with a bang on Friday night, defeating the Houston Astros 2-0 behind a stellar performance from starting pitcher Mike Montgomery. Montgomery was masterful on the mound, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing just four hits and striking out six batters. He was backed by an impressive offensive performance from outfielder Adolis Taveras, who hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to give the Rangers a much needed insurance run.
The Rangers had been struggling offensively in the weeks leading up to the ALCS, but they were able to get the job done on Friday night. They were able to string together some timely hits, and Taveras’ home run was the difference maker. The Rangers also got some help from their bullpen, as relievers Jose Leclerc and Ian Kennedy combined for two scoreless innings to close out the game.
The Astros had a chance to tie the game in the ninth inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Kennedy was able to get out of the jam and secure the win for the Rangers. It was a great start to the series for the Rangers, and they will look to build on their momentum in Game 2 on Saturday.
The Astros had their chances in Game 1, but they were unable to capitalize on them. They will need to find a way to get their offense going if they want to even up the series. The Rangers, meanwhile, will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. It should be an exciting game, and it will be interesting to see which team can come out on top.
