Jonah Heim Homer Gives Texas Rangers ALCS Game 6 Lead Over Houston Astros

Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim has two home runs off Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez in the American League Championship Series.

HOUSTON – One swing can change the course of a game. Two can give a team the edge. 

That's been the story early on Sunday night at Minute Maid Park. 

Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim broke the 1-1 tie at the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run off Houston Astros right-hander Framber Valdez in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. 

The Rangers must win Sunday night to remain alive for a shot at their first World Series appearance since 2011. The Astros took all three games at Globe Life Field after Texas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead during its first stint at the Juice Box. 

Heim, who smacked a 408-foot blast to left field off Valdez in Game 2, fouled off a change-up low to begin the at-bat. Designated hitter Mitch Garver saw two similar pitches the at-bat prior, thus giving the catch an avenue to follow. 

Snuck it over. #GoAndTakeIt pic.twitter.com/evCmz1zlYB

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) October 23, 2023

Valdez, who allowed five runs in the Rangers' win Monday, went back to the change-up, and Heim didn't miss, sending the ball just over the glove of right fielder Kyle Tucker into the stands. As Heim touched home, the silence grew over the rambunctious sea of fans donning orange jerseys. 

Did Heim think it was out? 

“No, I was blowing it like everybody else, but kudos to Mitch for an impressive at-bat to get me up there," he told FS1 in a dugout interview. "I was just looking for something up in the zone to put some barrel on it to keep the line moving."

Rangers DH Mitch Garver hits a home run against the Astros in the second inning of Game 6 of the ALCS / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

All three Rangers' runs have come with Garver as the middleman. The 32-year-old DH wasted little time in the second, sending the first pitch from Valdez to right-center field seats to get Texas on the board. 

Mistakes have been limited for both starting pitchers entering the back half of Sunday's contest. Entering the fifth, Valdez has allowed four hits, but also picked up four strikeouts. 

Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi allowed two hits in the first, including an RBI single to madman Yordan Álvarez, but also struck out three. He's issued three walks, including an intentional one to the Astros' slugger who hit two long balls the last time Houston played at home. 

Abreu Status Decided for ALCS Game 6

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