Houston Astros Force Rays Into Game 6 With Walk-Off Home Run

SAN DIEGO, CA — The Houston Astros won Game 5 of the American League championship series at the bottom of the ninth inning when Carlos Correa hit a home run to center field Thursday night.

For most of the game the Rays lagged behind the Astros. In the top of the eighth inning Ji-man Choi hit a home run on a 96 mph fast ball thrown by Astros pitcher Josh James. This tied the Rays with the Astros 3-3.

In the bottom of the eighth, defense for the Rays led by pitcher Nick Anderson kept bases clear and the Astros couldn't pull ahead.

The Rays were unable to score in the bottom of the ninth inning, and when the Astros player Correa went up to bat it was all over with his walk-off home run that made the score 4-3.

The Rays have one more chance to cement their trip to the World Series. The Rays are now 3-2 in the American League Championship Series.

Although they lost in Game 5, Rays rookie player Randy Arozarena celebrated a postseason home run record in the fifth inning.

According to CBS Sports, Arozarena's sixth postseason home run put him on this list of rookie playoffs records with at least four homers:

• Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays — 6 in 2020
• Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays — 6 in 2008
• Kyle Shwarber, Chicago Cubs — 5 in 2015
• Aaron Judge, New York Yankees — 4 in 2017
• Miguel Cabrera Miami Marlins — 4 in 2003

Game 6 is scheduled for Friday at 6:07 p.m. EST on TBS.