MLB Weekly Digest October 17th Edition: Astros Reach ALCS

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The prior week in MLB was about a team in the American League who unforgettably advanced to the ALCS, a club in the National League makes a shocking return to the NLCS, and a Hall of Fame player passed away.

Houston Astros Sweep Mariners with Memorable 18-Inning Win, Advance to Sixth Straight ALCS

Winners win. pic.twitter.com/ucZbnDjL3H

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 16, 2022

The Houston Astros had an unforgettable Game 3 in the ALDS as shortstop Jeremy Pena hit a home run in the 18^th inning of Seattle Mariners reliever Penn Murfee, which allowed the Astros to win the game by a score of 1-0 and sweep the series.

HE. IS. HIM. pic.twitter.com/6abbBe2ZK6

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 16, 2022

Pena is the third rookie in MLB history to hit an extra-innings home run in a playoff game, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

rookies to hit extra-inning HR, postseason history:

Today Jeremy Peña, 18th inning go-ahead
2022 ALWC G2 Oscar Gonzalez, 15th inning walk-off
2005 NLDS G4 Chris Burke, 18th inning walk-off https://t.co/I5L328ydMm

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 16, 2022

The contest on Saturday was the longest game in postseason history and the fourth-longest all-time when factoring in regular season games, per TSN StatsCentre.

The @astros sweep the Mariners 3-0 with a 1-0 win in 18 innings tonight. In MLB history (both regular & postseason), only 4 games that ended 1-0 went longer: HOU-NYM (24 inn. on Apr 15, 1968), LAD/MON (22 on Aug 23, 1989), SFG-CIN (21 on Sep 1, 1967), OAK-CAL (20 on Jul 9, 1971)

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 16, 2022

The Astros have reached the ALCS for a sixth straight season, an American League record.

Winners find ways to win. Period. pic.twitter.com/INw5GQ3vb7

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 16, 2022

Their series with the Mariners was close, as a couple of runs decided all three games.

The Astros proved they have the pitching to win the World Series, as their bullpen tossed 12 scoreless innings in that marathon game 3.

The Astros will face the Cleveland Guardians or the New York Yankees in the ALCS, which is scheduled to start on Wednesday.

San Diego Padres Oust 111-Win Dodgers, Advance to NLCS for First Time in 24 Years

WE'RE GOING TO THE NLCS#CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/YFSxm16PUX

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 16, 2022

The San Diego Padres have taken down Goliath, as they eliminated the 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers with a 5-3 win in Game 4 of the NLDS.

The Padres have advanced to the NLCS for the third time in franchise history and the first since 1998.

Padres’ infielder Jake Cronenworth laced a go-ahead single that punctuated a five-run seventh inning as they sent 10 batters to the plate.

HE IS HIM. #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/VYUX81hImH

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 16, 2022

Reliever Josh Hader shut the door in the ninth inning to catapult his club to the NLCS.

LA? BEAT. #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/slF6StTaQo

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 16, 2022

The Padres winning the NLDS was shocking as they won 89 games during the regular season and had 22 fewer wins than the Dodgers.

The second-largest gap in a playoff series upset, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

The Padres won 22 fewer regular-season games than the Dodgers, and won the NLDS over LA

THAT'S THE 2ND-LARGEST REGULAR-SEASON WINS UPSET IN A POSTSEASON SERIES

Only team to win a postseason series with a larger RS-wins upset:

1906 WS: White Sox (23 fewer RS wins) over Cubs

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 16, 2022

The only wider gap was the 1906 World Series champion Chicago White Sox, who had 23 fewer wins than the Chicago Cubs that won the NL pennant.

The Dodgers losing in the NLDS, became the first team ever to win at least 110 games in the regular season but not play for either a league championship or world series.

The Padres advance to the NLCS, where they will meet the Philadelphia Phillies.

This is the first time these two clubs have faced each other in the playoffs.

Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter Dies At Age 69

1982 World Series champion, 1979 NL Cy Young Award winner, Hall of Famer.

MLB Network mourns the passing of Bruce Sutter. pic.twitter.com/4SyPKRAc5c

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 14, 2022

Bruce Sutter, a Hall of Fame reliever and winner of the 1979 Cy Young, has passed away; he was 69.

Sutter is considered one of the first pitchers to throw a split-finger fastball.

Bruce Sutter, split-finger ace and Hall of Famer, dies at 69 https://t.co/4Ri1MOLliJ pic.twitter.com/00dr9KozOt

— CTV News (@CTVNews) October 15, 2022

The right-handed pitcher played 12 seasons in MLB, was a six-time All-Star and amassed 300 saves in his career.

Sutter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Sutter family during this time of bereavement.

The Cubs mourn the passing of Hall of Fame pitcher Bruce Sutter.

The 1979 NL Cy Young Award winner and a member of the Cubs Hall of Fame, Sutter pitched with Chicago from 1976-80, collecting 133 saves, second-most in franchise history.

Deepest sympathy to the Sutter family. 💙 pic.twitter.com/WHzzNFGzaV

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 14, 2022

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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