HOUSTON -- Right fielder Josh Reddick delivered a pair of highlight-reel defensive plays in the third inning of Game 2 of the American League Championship Series presented by Camping World on Saturday, helping the Astros claim a 2-1 victory over the Yankees for a 2-0 series lead.
Reddick wowed on consecutive plays to keep the Yanks off the board against starter Justin Verlander, who heartily applauded his outfielder's efforts. The plays would undoubtedly assist the veteran right-hander in getting through a sterling 124-pitch complete game.
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First, Reddick robbed Yankees designated hitter Chase Headley of extra bases with a leaping grab at the wall to secure the second out of the inning. Moments later, he was in action again.
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Yanks leadoff man Brett Gardner delivered a line drive down the right-field line, and a racing Reddick was on it, playing it perfectly and putting in motion a textbook relay throw to shortstop Carlos Correa, who fired the ball to third baseman Alex Bregman as the speedy Gardner eyed a triple.
Initially, Gardner was ruled safe, however the Astros requested to challenge the play. In a show of trust, energy and swagger, Bregman and his teammates ran off the field with confidence that the call would be overturned, which it was, to the delight of a sold-out crowd at Minute Maid Park.
"That's a huge moment in the ballgame that will probably be overlooked in the history books," Verlander said. "That's just one of the many ways that this team is so good, defense and in all facets of it.
"Getting to the ball, getting it in, making a good relay throw and a nice tag by Bregman. All of those things, and I told the guys, that was a huge play and kept the momentum on our side."
It all started with Reddick's off-balance throw.
"I was just trying to get it in as quick as possible and let Correa's arm do the work," Reddick said. "He's got a really good arm. That's what they teach you as an outfielder: get the ball in and let them do the work.

"I didn't really look. I just came up heave-hoing, and that's a play you know you're going to third, so you just gotta throw in the general direction and rely on your guys to be there. Those are the basic plays we work on in Spring Training. I knew I had a speedy runner and didn't have time to think about it."
Gardner, no slouch on the basepaths, ran from home to third base in 11.24 seconds, his third-fastest time this year -- just not quite fast enough.

"I was just a little out of whack running from second there," Gardner said. "I still caught the inside of the bag, but I wasn't able to push off it like I needed to.
"I knew I was out by three or four inches. I slid to the outside of the base and knew it was going to be a close play, but it was a good relay throw."
In the same way he was stationed for Gardner, Reddick played Headley in the gap, allowing him to take an ideal route to the wall.
"That was an awesome play," Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez said. "Who knows what was coming after that? He's one of the best outfielders in the [Majors]. What can I say about our defense? The way we've been playing, it's incredible."