Javier Pulled Early After Atrocious Start to Game 7 of ALCS Against Rangers

The confidence the Houston Astros had in Game 7 starting pitcher Cristian Javier quickly turned to disaster as he was pulled after recording just one out in the first inning of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday at Minute Maid Park.

Javier had a sterling postseason resume as a starter going into the game, as he won both of his postseason starts last season and both of his starts so far this postseason. In fact, in the playoffs for his career he was 6-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 16 games (four starts) with 60 strikeouts in 43.1 innings.

But he never completed that 43rd career inning as Javier’s command — and the Texas Rangers’ bats — took him out of the game after six hitters.

Javier recorded the only out when he faced the first hitter of the game, second baseman Marcus Semien. He grounded out to Jeremy Pena at shortstop.

Then things went south fast.

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager blasted a solo home run in to the second deck in right field to give Texas a 1-0 lead.

After that, Evan Carter — a 21-year-old rookie — drew a walk from Javier. That prompted a mound visit.

The Rangers then got aggressive on the basepaths. With Adolis García at the plate, Carter stole second base and then scored when García hit a single off the left field wall. He could have turned it into a double, but he spent a bit too long admiring the hit as he thought he might have hit a home run, like the grand slam he hit in Game 6.

It actually didn’t matter. García stole second off Javier and then scored when Mitch Garver’s bloop single fell just in front of the outstretched glove of Astros left fielder Michael Brantley. That gave Texas a 3-0 lead.

After Jonah Heim singled, Astros manager Dusty Baker made the move to the bullpen and brought in Phil Maton.

Officially Javier went 0.1 innings, giving up four hits, three runs (all earned), with a walk.

Maton wrapped up the inning by striking out Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung.