The Houston Astros clinched their place within the playoffs on Tuesday night time with a win in opposition to the Mariners securing a fourth straight division title.
Astros Clinch AL West
After a brutal MLB season, the Astros lastly clinched a playoff beginning together with their fourth AL West title this week, with simply 4 video games left to spare within the season.
It hasn’t been all plain crusing for the Astros this season although and after a sluggish begin to the season, first-year head coach Joe Espada recalled telling his gamers that they may recuperate and win the division but once more.
“We acquired this,” he advised the gamers. “We’re a superb crew. We’ve simply acquired to go on a sizzling streak and we’ll flip this round.”
“And we did,” he mentioned.
WE OWN THE WEST.
The 2024 American League West Champions pic.twitter.com/C50Q9fT1dY
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 25, 2024
The Astros have been so far as ten video games behind the Mariners early in the summertime, however they have been in a position to flip issues round with a formidable run into the latter levels of the common season.
“I by no means misplaced hope,” Espada mentioned. “However in the case of successful, you understand how to win and also you’ve acquired the correct components to win, you don’t mess that up. You’ve acquired to guard it and that’s what we’ve performed.”
The final time a facet gained 4 AL West division title’s in a row was 1971-75, with Oakland the final crew to finish the spectacular feat.
Houston sealed its fourth title in a row with a decent win in opposition to the Mariners, as Jason Heyward hit the all essential dwelling run to safe a post-season beginning.
Tuesday night time’s win snapped a 3 recreation dropping streak for the Astros they usually couldn’t have left it a lot later within the season to safe a spot within the playoffs however as ordinary, Houston got here good when it mattered most.
The Astros now look ahead to the playoffs which get underway subsequent month, with the primary match approaching October fifth as soon as all of the Wild Card groups are confirmed.