Astros Bullpen Implosion Allows Yankees to Tie ALCS at Two-Games Apiece

The New York Yankees have broken out and evened the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at two-games apiece.

The return to the Bronx was the cure for all that ailed the punchless team who have piled up fourteen runs over the last two games.

Following a critical 8-1 game three victory, things weren’t looking good for the men in pinstripes as the Astros took a 4-0 lead and pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. had been brilliant in shutting down New York’s potent bats, holding them to two hits after six innings.

Then Astros manager A.J. Hinch made what may go down as a monumental strategic blunder that will have him fitted for goat horns if Houston goes on to lose the series.

Hinch pulled McCullers after he surrendered a home run to budding superstar Aaron Judge who took the pitcher deep to center.

It was only the second hit that he gave up but it set into motion a chain of events that would erase what was once a two-game ALCS lead for the Astros.

Houston’s bullpen melted down in about the most spectacular fashion that a relief staff could and by the time it was over. The Yankees had scored five more runs.

The final tally of 6-4 was a crushing loss for the Astros and another momentum builder for the Yankees.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers crushing the Chicago Cubs 6-1 to assume what is likely an insurmountable lead in the NLCS, it would be a blast from the past: Yankees vs. Dodgers in the World Series.

Game five is this afternoon at 5 pm ET.

Houston lefty Dallas Keuchel takes the mound with a chance to salvage what has been a nightmarish visit to New York, Masahiro Tanaka will pitch for the Yankees.