Astros in Game 7 vs Rays; Dodgers stay alive vs Braves

The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers are not backing down in the battles for World Series berths.

The Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-4, on Friday to force a decisive Game 7  in Major League Baseball’s American League Championship Series, putting themselves on the brink of a historic comeback.

The Dodgers fended off elimination in the National League Championship Series with a 7-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Arlington, Texas, where Los Angeles trimmed the series deficit to 3-2.

After dropping the first three games of the ALCS in San Diego, California, the Astros have won three straight.

“We’re relentless,” Astros shortstop Carlos Correa said. “We said we didn’t want to go home and we meant it.”

Houston, which has played the villain this pandemic-disrupted season after a sign-stealing scandal tainted their 2017 World Series victory, is just the second team to advance to a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 in a series.

The Boston Red Sox did it in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees – and won Game 7 on the way to the Major League Baseball crown.

In Arlington, Corey Seager homered twice for the Dodgers and Los Angeles catcher Will Smith belted a three-run home run off his namesake, Braves relief pitcher Will Smith, to power the Dodgers to a series-extending victory.