The Major League Baseball (MLB) Texas Rangers have secured both the first and second games of the American League Championship Series (ALCS, best-of-seven) held in the enemy territory, raising their chances of advancing to the World Series for the first time in 12 years.

Texas beat the Houston Astros 5-4 in Game 2 of the 2023 ALCS at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, on the 17th.

Texas, which beat Houston 2-0 in the first round of the ALCS on the previous day (16th), has won two consecutive games. Texas, which has gained an advantage, will play games 3~5 of the ALCS at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, from the 19th.

If Texas adds two more wins in the remaining series, it will be its third World Series stage after 2010 and 2011.

Texas has not won the World Series yet. He lost to the San Francisco Giants in 2010 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, respectively, and bowed his head at the championship threshold.

On the other hand, Houston, the winner of last year's World Series, was on the verge of elimination as it lost two rounds in the ALCS first.

Unlike Game 1 when the pitching match took place, in Game 2, hot attacks were staged from the start. 토토사이트

Texas tied up five hits and one opponent's error in the top of the first inning to score four runs. Robbie Grossman hit a grounder to the pitcher with no outs and runners on first and second bases, but Houston pitcher Framber Valdez's throw to first base was far off. Texas, which scored the first point thanks to the opponent's error, widened the gap to 4-0 with Adolis Garcia, Mitch Garver, and Nathaniel Lowe hitting timely hits one after another.

Texas allowed a solo shot to Jordan Alvarez in the bottom of the second inning, but immediately ran away 5-1 with Jonah Haim drawing a solo arch in the top of the third inning.

Since then, Houston has launched a fierce counterattack. Alex Bregman hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Michael Brantley hit an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Álvarez hit his second home run of the day to catch up to 4-5, one point difference.

But the Texas mound didn't allow a tie.

Jose LeCluck, who took the mound in relief with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning when he was trailing 5-4, caused a crisis by giving up consecutive walks to Jose Altuve and Brantley, but induced Chas McCormick to an infield grounder to prevent a run. LeCluck also took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning, dealing with all three batters and maintaining his one-run victory.

Texas will have Max Scherzer, a 214-win pitcher in the Major League Baseball, as its starting pitcher in Game 3 of the ALCS to be held on the 19th. In contrast, Houston will start with Christian Javier.