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Yordan Alvarez (center) was named ALCS MVP. He had a batting average.522 and 12 hits in 23 at-bats.
After beating the Boston Red Sox by 4-2 in the American League Championship Series, the Houston Astros reached their third World Series in five seasons.
After trailing 2-1 in the best of seven ALCS games, the Astros won the next three games and swept the Red Sox by 5-0 in Friday's sixth game at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Los Angeles Dodgers is beaten 3-2 by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. Game six will be played on Saturday. The winners will face Houston in the Fall Classic on Tuesday.
Houston lost to the Washington Nationals in 2019 World Series after his maiden title in 2017 was marred by an electronic sign-stealing scandal.
Redemption was also on their agenda, as they were twice penalized by Major League Baseball for electronic sign-stealing in 2017 (and again in 2018), the year that saw them win their most recent World Series title.
The use of electronic equipment to steal signals is prohibited by MLB rules. These are hand signals that catchers use to tell pitchers which delivery they want to throw. However, the practice, although frowned upon, does not violate the rules.
Boston had defeated the Astros 9-5 and 12-3 in games two and three, respectively, but lost the final three games by a total of 23-3.
Luis Garcia, a rookie Astros pitcher, was unable to pitch in game two due to a knee injury. He returned for game six, but did not allow another hit until the sixth inning.
Yordan Alvarez, designated hitter, managed two doubles as well as a triple while collecting the ALCS most valued player trophy. Kyle Tucker, right fielder hit a three-run homer to give the hosts some breathing room in the eighth.
