Houston Astros Outlast Twins, Will Face Rangers in ALCS

The Houston Astros have advanced to their seventh straight American League Championship Series after outlasting the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS. They'll now face their intrastate rivals Texas Rangers with a World Series trip on the line.

The Houston Astros winning the American League Division Series feels almost inevitable whenever they're in that round.

That's probably because it's been that way for the past seven seasons.

Despite a scare in Game 2 of the ALDS, the Astros went on the road and beat the Minnesota Twins in two consecutive games to advance to their seventh American League Championship Series in a row.

Game 3 was full of highlights with their sluggers putting on a hitting clinic.

It was not that way in Game 4.

With Jose Urquidy on the mound, the Twins got off to a dream start when their young star Royce Lewis hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning.

That lead was short lived as Houston's veteran Michael Brantley answered with his own solo shot the next inning.

Despite the game being a pitchers' duel overall, the only way runs were scored in this game were by the long ball.

With the game tied 1-1, Jose Abreu hit a two-run shot in the fourth to give the Astros a 3-1 lead.

That was all the separation they needed as they held onto a 3-2 victory to advance to the ALCS.

Now, they'll face a familiar opponent with a World Series trip on the line.

It will be an all Texas matchup as Houston gets set to face the Texas Rangers.

It's a matchup that the Astros should be looking forward to as they had a 9-4 record against their intrastate rival.

Get the popcorn ready for this one because this best-of-seven series is certain to provide fireworks.