Astros Shut Down Yankees, Take 2-1 Lead in ALCS

Gerrit Cole tossed seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Houston's second consecutive win of the series.

Gerrit Cole blanked the Yankees with seven shutout innings on Tuesday as the Astros won Game 3, 4-1, and seized a 2–1 lead in the ALCS.

Houston's ace fanned seven Yankees batters in the victory. Joe Smith allowed a solo homer to Gleyber Torres in the eighth inning, but his dinger was New York's only run of the night.

.@GerritCole45's first K of the day is filthy. 😳#ALCS pic.twitter.com/iSTj4vu00K

— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2019

Cole’d blooded 🔥#TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/A947Nj3pM9

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 15, 2019

Jose Altuve got the Astros on the board with a solo home run in the first inning. Josh Reddick added to the lead one inning later, blasting a homer into the second deck in rightfield.

ASTROS STRIKE FIRST!

Jose Altuve goes deep on the first pitch he sees! pic.twitter.com/sUglMcnD9K

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 15, 2019

BOOM‼️

@RealJoshReddick goes DEEP to extend the @astros lead! pic.twitter.com/zBY8CCi6v3

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 15, 2019

Yankees starter Luis Severino settled down after the two homers. He struck out six in 4 1/3 innings before New York deployed five relievers to end the game.

The Yankees registered just five hits on Tuesday, two from leadoff man DJ LeMahieu. 

Neither team has announced their starter for Game 3 on Wednesday, with heavy rain in the forecast. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is slated for 7:08 p.m. ET.