Astros Force Game 7

(AP) – The Houston Astros have forced a Game 7 in the American League Championship Series, three days after falling behind three-games-to-none. The Astros put together a four-run fifth and coasted to a 7-4 win over Tampa Bay. Houston trailed 1-0 until George Springer poked a two-run single and scored on Jose Altuve’s double. Carlos Correa finished with three hits, including an RBI single to complete the fifth-inning rally. Kyle Tucker padded Houston’s lead with a leadoff homer in the sixth and added a sacrifice fly. Manuel Margot drove in three with a pair of homers for the Rays after the Astros went ahead, 7-1. Astros starter Framber Valdez was outstanding over six innings, limiting the Rays to a run and two hits while striking out nine. Valdez blanked Tampa Bay after Willy Adames hit an RBI double in the second. Blake Snell took the loss, yielding two runs and three hits in four-plus innings. The Astros are the second team to force a Game 7 in a best-of-7 series after dropping the first three contests.