Live updates & highlights: Rangers hold late lead over Astros in Game 1 of ALCS

HOUSTON — The Astros completed the regular season matchup against the Rangers with a three-game sweep at the beginning of September. Houston hit 16 homers to sweep that series by a combined score of 39-10.

But despite the lopsided results this season, both teams say they’ll start with a clean slate for the American League Championship Series.

Sunday’s game is the 14th meeting between these teams this season. The Astros have a 9-4 advantage in the season series.

Houston’s success in the head-to-head matchup allowed the Astros to win the AL West while the Rangers had to play in the Wild Card Series after both teams finished with 90-72 records.

Justin Verlander will face left-hander Jordan Montgomery on Sunday night.

Verlander, who returned to Houston in a July trade from the Mets, will make his 36th playoff start. The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched six scoreless innings in the Division Series opener against Minnesota to extend his franchise record with his 10th postseason win.

For the Astros, their only change from the Division Series was replacing outfielder Jake Meyers with right-handed reliever Ronel Blanco. Manager Dusty Baker announced Saturday that reliever Kendall Graveman will not be on the roster as he deals with discomfort in his right shoulder.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Blanco provides length and flexibility in the bullpen and the team thought it needed to go with 13 pitchers for the best-of-seven series. As for Graveman, who last pitched on Sept. 30, the GM said he is getting better.

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Marcus Semien grounded out for the first out of the game. Corey Seager singled through the right side and Mitch Garver grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Jose Altuve flew out to left field for the first out. Alex Bregman lined out for the second out and Yordan Alvarez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Adolis García grounded out on the first pitch of the second inning. Evan Carter then doubled to right on a ball that kicked off José Abreu’s glove. Jonah Heim brought him in to score on a base hit to center.

Nathaniel Lowe flew out to center field and Josh Jung singled to left, moving Heim to second. Leody Taveras walked to turn the lineup over but Semien popped out to end the bases-loaded threat.

Abreu lined a single to left to start the inning. Kyle Tucker hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out. Chas McCormick flew out to center for the second out and Mauricio Dubón flew out to right to end the second inning.

Seager led off the third inning with a foul out down the third-base line, Garver flew out to center and García popped out on the infield the end the Rangers’ half of the inning.

Jeremy Peña grounded out to shortstop to start the home half of the third. Martín Maldonado walked to turn the lineup over but Altuve popped out for the second out. Bregman singled to left, bringing up Alvarez with two on and two out but he went down swinging to end the threat.

Carter grounded out to second, Heim fouled out and Lowe flew out to left to end Texas’ half of the fourth.

Abreu struck out swinging before Tucker flew out to center. McCormick singled to center and then Dubón singled to left. Peña singled to load the bases for Maldonado, who struck out swinging to end the inning.

Jung struck out before Taveras homered to right.

Semien lined out to center for the second out and Seager went down swinging to end the frame.

Altuve lined out to left for the first out in the home half of the fifth. Bregman grounded out and Alvarez went down swinging to end the inning, his third strikeout of the game.

Garver struck out looking, García fouled out and Carter lined out to right for a one-two-three inning for Verlander.

Abreu struck out swinging to lead off the home half of the sixth. Tucker grounded out to Montgomery and McCormick grounded out to third to end the inning.

Heim walked to lead off the seventh and then Lowe struck out looking. Jung went down swinging but Taveras singled to center to keep the inning alive for the Rangers. After throwing his 101st pitch of the game, Verlander was pulled in favor of Héctor Neris, who got Semien to foul out to end the inning.

Dubón lined out to center for the first out, which proved to be Montgomery’s final batter. The Rangers brought in Josh Sborz, who got Peña to pop out to center. Yainer Díaz pinch hit for Maldonado and grounded out to shortstop on the first pitch he saw to end the inning.

Neris stayed in the game and got Seager swinging for the first out. Garver grounded out and García popped out to end the inning.

Sborz stayed in the game to face Altuve, who walked. Aroldis Chapman relieved Sborz and Bregman flew out to the wall for the first out and Altuve was doubled off after not tagging second base on his way back to first. Alvarez grounded out for the final out of the frame.

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