Astros-Royals ALDS Game 1: Did You Know?
The Astros were unfazed by a rain delay on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium, remaining unbeaten this postseason with a 5-2 win over the defending American League champion Royals in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.
Here are some stats and facts you should know from Game 1:
:: ALDS: Astros vs. Royals -- Tune-in info ::
• Carlos Correa's first-inning single made him the youngest player in Astros history to record a postseason hit. At 21, Correa was two years younger than Richard Hidalgo, who held the previous record with a single as a 23-year-old in Game 4 of the 1998 National League Division Series.
• More postseason history was made in the top of the fifth, when 6-foot-10 Royals right-hander Chris Young surrendered a 1-2 single to 5-foot-6 Jose Altuve -- representing the biggest height differential between a pitcher and hitter in postseason history.
The single was the third hit of the game for Altuve, who led the AL in stolen bases during the regular season with 38 but was caught moments after the hit by Salvador Perez while trying to swipe second.
• Colby Rasmus' eighth-inning home run -- his second in two postseason games -- gave the Astros an insurance run and tied a Major League record. He became one of five players in history to record an extra-base hit in each of his first five postseason games. Rasmus doubled in the first three games of the 2009 NLDS as a member of the Cardinals.
Video: HOU@KC Gm1: Perez throws out Altuve trying to steal
• Astros starter Collin McHugh didn't face the Royals this season, but he did throw seven scoreless innings last season in a 3-0 Astros win at Kauffman Stadium. Including Thursday's outing, McHugh has allowed just seven hits over 13 career innings against the Royals.
Video: HOU@KC Gm1: McHugh waits out delay, strong over six
• Relieving starter Yordano Ventura after a 49-minute rain delay, veteran Young set a Royals postseason record by striking out five batters in a row -- beginning by fanning Correa after falling behind in the count and ending with a four-pitch swinging strikeout of Jake Marisnick.
Video: HOU@KC Gm1: Young strikes out seven in relief outing
Young's outing -- consisting of four innings of one-run ball -- was just the second postseason appearance of Young's 11-year career and his first since 2006. He added two more strikeouts after setting the record to finish with seven on the night and increase his postseason total to 16.
• Ventura handcuffed the Astros in his only appearance against them this season, tossing seven innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 win on July 26. The high-energy fireballer was unable to settle in early before the rain hit. The three runs he allowed in his two-inning start were the most he'd allowed in any start since Sept. 23.
Video: HOU@KC Gm1: Yost on taking out Ventura after delay
• Kendrys Morales was the first Royals player since George Brett to homer twice in a postseason game; Brett hit two in Game 3 of the 1985 AL Championship Series. Morales, who recorded a pair of multihomer games during the regular season, had played in 16 postseason games before Thursday, having hit two home runs.
Morales' multihomer effort was only the second such game by a Cuban-born player. Morales joined Tony Perez, who hit two out in Game 5 of the 1975 World Series.
• The Astros struck out 14 times, three shy of a franchise record. Every starter besides Altuve struck out, and four struck out multiple times.
• The Astros, who had a 33-48 road record during the regular season, won four of their final six road games to close the season. For the first time since 1970, road clubs have gone 4-0 to start the postseason.