HOUSTON — Considering the combined offensive firepower of the heated in-state rival Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, perhaps it's a bit of a surprise that Game 1 of 2023 American League Championship Series was mostly a pitcher's duel.
The game's starting pitchers -- Jordan Montgomery for the Rangers, and Justin Verlander for the Astros -- each lasted deep into the series' opening salvo, keeping their pitch counts largely in check and their opposing batters largely guessing all night long.
The left-handed Montgomery, protecting a historically shaky Rangers bullpen, last an out into the seventh inning for Texas. Verlander, for his part, also stayed on the mound for the Astros into the seventh, lasting through the first two Rangers outs.
By that point, though, the slight damage needed in a such a well-pitched matchup was already done.
The Rangers struck their first blood of the game in the second inning at Houston's Minute Maid Park, as rookie outfielder Evan Carter -- continuing to play like a cagey veteran despite his big-league inexperience -- ripped a double through the infield with a flashy displaying of baserunning. He continued to showcase his forte on the bases in the next at-bat, too, scoring on catcher Jonah Heim single.
While the Rangers were able to then load the bases in the second, Verlander was able to pitch his way out of a jam and get out of the inning.
That's something Montgomery proved himself capable of all game long, too, keeping the Astros scoreless despite six Houston batters reaching base against him -- and, ultimately, all of them being left there.
The Rangers' second run in the game would come on a fifth-inning moonshot solo home run from outfielder Leody Taveras.
It would prove the last score of the game.
But that's not to say the game's final innings were devoid of high-stakes action. In the eight inning, a dramatic warning track catch by Carter on a deep drive from Astros third baseman Alex Bregman off Rangers reliever Aroldis Chapman turned into a double play when the game's instant replay officials entered the fray. After scouring video of the play, the umps ruled that Houston shortstop Jose Altuve, on base after having earned a walk to open the frame, didn't properly touch second base a second time after he'd initially crossed it before hustling back to tag back up at first.
Rangers closer José Leclerc then took the mound in the ninth, retiring the Astros lineup's fourth, fifth and sixth hitters in order.
In the end, the Rangers' two runs scored proved enough to earn the team a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
And, now into their third series on this run, the Rangers remain unbeaten in the 2023 playoffs.
First pitch of Game 2 in the ALCS will arrive at 3:37 p.m. on Monday. Oct. 16, and it will once again be played in Houston's Minute Maid Park. In addition to a Monday watch party hosted at the Rangers' Globe Life Field in Arlington, the team will also host a free-to-attend Game 2 watch party at Dallas' Klyde Warren Park.
