Game updates: Javier’s gem, homers have Astros in front of Twins in Game 3 of ALDS

MINNEAPOLIS — The Astros are in Minnesota, hoping to take a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series against the Twins.

Over the weekend, the teams each won a game at Minute Maid Park in Houston, so the best-of-five is now a best-of-three, with the winner moving on to the American League Championship Series against the winner of the Baltimore-Texas series.

For the Astros, Cristian Javier is on the mound going up against the Twins’ Sonny Gray. The Astros shifted their starting lineup around a little, adding in Mauricio Dubón in center field and Yainer Díaz as the designated hitter.  Chas McCormick is out of the starting lineup for Houston.

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We will keep a running account of the game below.

Jose Altuve led off the game with a single and Alex Bregman went down looking for the first out of the inning. Yordan Alvarez reached second base on a ball hit down the first-base line, moving Altuve to third. Kyle Tucker singled through the left side of the infield, bringing in Altuve for the first run of the game.

Jose Abreu then homered to left field to make it a 4-0 game.

Yainer Díaz went down looking and Dubón popped out to end the inning.

Javier struck out Edouard Julien to start the bottom half of the inning. Jorge Polanco then worked a walk and Max Kepler doubled to right field, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa both struck out swinging to end the threat.

Jeremy Peña led off the second inning with a single and Martín Maldonado laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position. The single extended Peña’s postseason hitting streak to 10 games.

Altuve went down looking and Bregman grounded out to end the inning.

Javier struck out Alex Kirilloff and Matt Wallner to begin the home half of the fifth. Willi Castro fouled out on a bunt attempt to end the inning.

Alvarez doubled down the first-base line to begin the third inning against Gray. Tucker grounded out to second, moving Alvarez to third with one out. Abreu and Díaz struck out to end the frame.

Ryan Jeffers was hit by a pitch to start the home half of the third. Julien also walked by Javier got Polanco swinging and Kepler popped out to left field for the second out of the inning. Lewis lined out to left to end the inning.

Dubón singled to left to start the fourth. Peña and Maldonado both flew out to right field, turning the lineup over. Altuve then went down looking to end the inning.

Javier got Correa to ground out to shortstop on the first pitch of the home half of the inning. Kirilloff grounded out to second for the second out and Wallner struck out swinging to end the inning, Javier’s seventh strikeout of the game.

Gray remained in the game and Bregman homered to lead off the fifth inning for the Astros.

Alvarez followed with a double down the right-field line, his second of the game. Gray walked Tucker, which ended up being the last batter he faced. Emilio Pagán came on in relief and got Abreu to pop out, Díaz swinging and Dubón to fly out to right to end the inning.

Javier walked Castro to start the inning but got Jeffers to fly out to center for the first out of the inning. Julien and Polanco worked walks, loading the bases. Kepler struck out looking and Lewis went down swinging to end the threat.

Kenta Maeda replaced Pagán to begin the inning. Peña walked and Maldonado singled to left, moving Peña to third as he was in motion on the play. Altuve lined out to shortstop for the first out of the frame. Bregman delivered an RBI single to tack on another run for the Astros.

Alvarez grounded out to first for the second out of the inning. Tucker grounded out to end the frame.

Javier’s day ended after five scoreless innings and nine strikeouts.

Hunter Brown came on in relief to face the middle of the Twins’ lineup. Correa singled through the shift to open the inning. Donovan Solano pinch-hit for Kirilloff and flew out to right for the first out. Wallner worked a walk, putting runners on first and second with one down. Castro singled to right, scoring Correa and making it 6-1. Jeffers grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Maeda remained in the game to face Abreu, who struck out swinging to start the inning. Díaz grounded out and Dubón struck out to end the inning.

Bryan Abreu relieved Brown and worked a 1-2-3 inning.

Bailey Ober took over for Maeda and got Peña to fly out to center to start the inning. Maldonado singled and Altuve flew out to left for the second out. Bregman struck out looking to end the inning.

Phil Maton relieved Bryan Abreu in the eighth inning and got Lewis to line out for the first out. Correa lined out to center and Solano went down looking to end the inning.