HOUSTON — Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier's two 2023 American League Championship Series appearances could not have been any more different.
In Game 3, Javier locked down the Texas Rangers hitters completely, going 5.2 innings and allowing only two runs en route to Houston's first win of the series.
In Game 7, however, the Rangers bats turned up the heat on Javier -- and he was pulled by manager Dusty Baker after only 23 pitches.
Corey Seager opened up the scoring with a 440-foot home run to right center. Then came two more runs courtesy of RBI singles from Adolis Garcia and Mitch Garver.
Javier -- nicknamed "El Reptil" by his teammates for his cool on-field demeanor -- was replaced after retiring just one Rangers batter by Phil Maton, who struck out Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung to stop the bleeding and get the Astros out of the first inning in Game 7.
The last time a starter went less than an inning in a Game 7 situation was in the 1945 World Series when Cubs' starter Hank Borowy didn't retire a batter at all, according to the Dallas Morning News' Rangers beat writer Evan Grant.
Texas led 3-0 before Houston even had a batter step into the box.
The Astros, however, responded with one run in the bottom half of the first inning.
Regardless, Javier ended his day in Game 7 allowing four hits, three earned runs and one walk.
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