ALDS Game 4

Astros head to AL Championship Series after comeback win over Red Sox 5-4

Alex Bregman's game-tying homer in the eighth started the Astros rally.

Photo by Maddie Meyer//Getty Images

The Astros are headed to their first Championship Series appearance since 2005 after clutch hitting from Alex Bregman and Josh Reddick late in Game 4 to completed a thrilling comeback win.

Both teams pushed their chips all in, including bringing their ace pitchers in for relief appearances, but the Astros came on top winning 5-4 in Game 4 and taking the series 3-1. Alex Bregman had a huge homer to tie the game followed by the go-ahead single by Josh Reddick to send the Astros on to the win.

The Astros got on the board first as they have done in every game of this series as Jose Altuve grounded into a double play allowing George Springer to score from third to give the Astros a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Xander Bogaerts answered back for Boston with a solo home run off of Charlie Morton in the bottom of the first to tie the game 1-1.

Springer would give the Astros the lead back in the top of the second with a two-out RBI single to score Yuli Gurriel who tripled earlier in the inning to make it 2-1. The Astros went on to load the bases, but Rick Porcello ended the threat with a strikeout of Carlos Correa. The Red Sox were able to load the bases themselves with no outs in the bottom of the second but were unable to do anything with it as Morton threw back-to-back strikeouts followed by a popout to end the inning.

After finishing three innings, Porcello's day was done and in came Chris Sale from the bullpen to try and keep the Red Sox in the game and keep their season alive. Morton continued to pitch for the Astros into the fifth inning but was pulled in favor of Justin Verlander who made his first relief appearance ever as the Astros tried to beat out the rain and finish the series. Unfortunately, Verlander's first batter would give the Red Sox the lead as Andrew Benintendi launched a two-run go-ahead home run to make it 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

After multiple innings of dominant pitching by Sale, Alex Bregman took advantage of a changeup over the plate and knocked it over the Green Monster, tying the game at 3 in the top of the eighth. Sale faced two more batters, giving up a single to Gattis before getting McCann to line out for out number two, then was pulled in favor of Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel walked Springer before allowing Josh Reddick to put the Astros back in front 4-3 by hitting a single to score Maybin who was pinch running for Gattis.

Verlander bounced back from the homer in the bottom of the fifth and was able to pitch through the seventh without allowing any more runs. The Astros went to Ken Giles in the eighth inning and were able to get a 1-2-3 inning to hold the one-run lead. Carlos Beltran added another insurance run in the top of the ninth, hitting a RBI double off of Kimbrel, prompting a call to the bullpen to bring in Addison Reed who was able to get the final out of the inning.

Giles came back out for the ninth and allowed a home run to Rafael Devers to bring the Red Sox within one, but bounced back from it and was able to get a strikeout and two groundouts to save the 5-4 win.

Next Up: The Astros will be paying close attention to Game 4 between the Indians and Yankees tonight, as they will face the winner of that series starting on Friday ( October 13). If the Yankees are able to win the series, the Astros will have home-field advantage and host Game 1, while if the Indians win the Astros will head to Cleveland.

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This story first appeared on SportsMap.

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in this corner

Premier Japanese women's wrestling league performs in Houston this weekend

Two Japanese women wrestlers compete in a ring. One is stomping in the other with both feet.

Photo courtesy of Tokyo Joshi

Hard-hitting women's wrestling for two nights in Houston

For the first time ever, one of Japan's premier women's wrestling promotions, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, will be touring Texas, with a two-night stay in Houston this week.

"Bringing TJPW to Texas reflects Tokyo Story’s broader strategy," a Tokyo Story representative writes in an email. "As a Japan-inspired toy and event company, we see major Southwest cities — especially in Texas — as prime for the growth of Asian pop culture. Houston, Dallas, and others are becoming more diverse, culturally curious, and open to new entertainment formats. This isn’t a one-off stop — it’s part of a long-term push to bring Japan’s creativity to cities with eager audiences. And we are making TJPW Live an annual event!"

The events happen on Thursday, July 10 and Friday, July 11 at POST Houston (401 Franklin). Tickets are available at TokyoStoryUSA.com.

TJPW split off from DDT Wrestling in 2012 as a sister promotion (or "league") that ran alongside its male counterpart before becoming its own entity in 2015. In that time, they've launched the career of international superstars like Yuka Sakazaki and Mina Shirakawa (both currently signed to All Elite Wrestling in America), as well as hosting non-Japanese guest grapplers like Thunder Rosa.

The fighting is excellent and often brutal, but TJPW is also known for its playfulness. Matches embrace anime-like absurdity, such as having a wrestler work in a giant panda mascot costume. The promoters are hoping to one day partner with Texas truck stop icon Buc-ee's for a more mascot shenanigans. Many of the women also perform in J-pop girl groups on of their wrestling duties.

On Night 1, strike specialist Miyu Yamashita will take on Maki Itoh, known for her flamboyant style and high risk maneuvers. Night 2 will feature much of the local guest talent, such as Houston's own Kaylia Capri (Reality of Wrestling) vs Yuki Arai in a singles bout, and Austin's Vert Vixen teaming with reigning TJPW tag champ Hyper Misao. Other Texans slated to appear ar Maya World, Alejandra Quintanilla, and Billie Starkz.

The last decade has seen a marked rise in the quality and prestige of women's wrestling in America, with WWE hosting all-women Royal Rumbles and stars like Rhea Ripley and "Timeless" Toni Storm becoming household names. Most major promotions now feature robust line-ups of Japanese women wrestlers, with some like Asuka and Iyo Sky becoming world champions.

For Japan, women's wrestling has a more consistent history of legitimacy going back decades, and the talent pool there is vast. TJPW branching out into Texas tours gives them a chance to showcase their wrestlers in the land that spawned legends like The Undertaker, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and the Von Erich Family.

"The response has been overwhelmingly positive," said the TJPW spokesperson. "Many who had never experienced joshi (women’s) wrestling before are discovering how entertaining, emotional, and uniquely captivating it is. Since announcing the Texas shows, we’ve received a flood of enthusiastic messages — not just from wrestling fans, but from people drawn to the theatricality, comedy, and creativity of TJPW. We've also heard from fans in other states asking us to bring the tour to their cities."