Twins beat Astros 6-2 as Carlos Correa, Pablo López dominate and dazzle in ALDS Game 2

HOUSTON — What started as overwhelming cheers for Carlos Correa when he was introduced to the Minute Maid Park crowd before the start of the American League Division Series turned progressively into louder boos during Sunday's Game 2.

It couldn't be easy watching Correa, back in the ballpark where he created many of October heroics, add to his legend with his new team.

He has impacted every Twins postseason game. None more than Sunday. Correa reached base four times, delivered three hits and drove in three runs to help the Twins pull away for a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros. Behind Correa's offense and a masterpiece from starting pitcher Pablo López, the Twins evened the series at one game apiece before the two teams traveled to Minnesota.

Game 3 is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. Tuesday at Target Field.

"Some guys, they're giants in the lights," Baldelli said. "That's what [Correa] is. He's always an excellent player, but when it matters most, he can really take his attention and channel it."

There was no diminishing the importance of Sunday's game. Teams that take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Series win 89% of the time.

Once the Twins took an early lead, it was all López. He spun seven scoreless innings against an Astros team that hadn't lost an ALDS home game since 2017. He joined Johan Santana (2004 ALDS) and Jack Morris (1991 World Series) as the only Twins pitchers to complete seven or more shutout innings in a postseason start.

"What you saw today was a true ace," Correa said. "He cemented himself, with this start, as one of the best pitchers in the game. There is no doubt about that."

For much of the season, one of the most frustrating aspects of the Twins offense was their inability to hit lefthanded pitching. They compiled five runs and seven hits against Astros lefty Framber Valdez, who went 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four postseason starts during 2022 with two wins in the World Series.

Correa, batting with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, knocked Valdez out of the game with a two-run single. The rally started with back-to-back singles from Michael A. Taylor and Donovan Solano. Jorge Polanco, after pulling a ball foul past the right field line, chose on his own to drop a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third base with a three-run lead.

Royce Lewis drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Correa. Astros manager Dusty Baker allowed Valdez to face Correa for a third time because Valdez is the best in baseball at inducing grounders and Correa hit into 30 double plays this year.

"I was going to swing under it, even if I missed under," Correa said. "I didn't want to hit a ground ball in that scenario. Hit for too many double plays in the regular season. I don't want to hit them in the playoffs."

Correa fouled the second pitch of his at-bat, a low sinker, before lifting an even lower sinker into center. Taylor and Solano scored easily. Lewis, despite his balky hamstring, motored into third base. Correa punched the air with his right arm, staring at his teammates in the dugout from first base, before tapping his chest and shouting.

Another clutch hit? His teammates expected it.

"100%," Taylor said. "I'd have bet my house on it."

Correa, after his two-run single, high-fived Twins first-base coach Hank Conger and the bat boy who picked up his equipment as Baker walked to the mound to remove Valdez. The sellout crowd he electrified for so many postseasons fell silent.

"This is a lifetime of work in the making when you see him step on the field to do these things," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We're not surprised."

It was the first postseason road win for the Twins since Oct. 5, 2004 at the old Yankee Stadium, snapping a nine-game road losing streak in the playoffs. Correa's hit ended an 18-game postseason streak in which the Twins scored four or fewer runs.

The Twins misfired on chances to add onto their lead. After the Astros replaced Valdez, Ryan Jeffers unsuccessfully attempted a squeeze bunt that led to Lewis being tagged out in front of the plate. With the bases loaded again in the seventh inning, pinch-hitter Edouard Julien delivered a two-out RBI single to right field, but Correa was thrown out at home attempting to score from second base.

No matter with the way López pitched.

The Astros put two runners on base in the fourth inning after a walk and Michael Brantley flipped a two-out, two-strike slider into left field for a single. Pitching coach Pete Maki made a mound visit as the announced crowd of 43,017 roared to life at López's first sign of trouble.

Maki briefly discussed strategy and then told López, "See you in a minute." López responded, "Yeah, you will."

López struck out the next batter, Chas McCormick, on three pitches.

"It was one of the most impressive outings I've ever seen," Correa said.

One day after the Twins lamented their missed opportunities in the early innings against Justin Verlander, they capitalized. Correa hit a towering, two-out RBI double off the wall in the first inning. Kyle Farmer added a two-run homer in the second inning.

Correa, who moved up to the cleanup spot in the lineup, has 63 RBI in his postseason career, tied for the third-highest total in MLB history behind Bernie Williams (80) and Manny Ramirez (78).

For Correa's last act in Houston, unless the Twins return for a potential Game 5, he made a diving stop for the game's final out.