HOUSTON — Justin Verlander remained perfect with the Houston Astros when they couldn’t afford anything else.
The ace right-hander pitched seven shutout innings and Jose Altuve homered and drove in three runs during a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night that extended the AL Championship Series to a decisive Game 7.
“He’s been everything that we could have hoped for and more,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said about Verlander. “He chose to come here for games like this and beyond.”
Acquired in an Aug. 31 trade, Verlander has won all nine of his outings for the Astros — including three starts and his first career relief appearance during the postseason. With his new club facing playoff elimination for the first time in Game 6 against the Yankees, he delivered again to tie the series 3-all.
“There’s no point in saving anything,” Verlander said, acknowledging the last two innings took a lot out of him.
Game 7 is Saturday night in Houston, with the winner advancing to the World Series against the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It’s going to be a crazy night,” Altuve said. “I know both teams are going to go out there and leave everything they have.”
CC Sabathia is scheduled to start for New York against Charlie Morton in a rematch of Game 3, won 8-1 by the Yankees. The home team has taken every game in the series.
“We’ve been in this situation throughout the year,” New York rookie slugger Aaron Judge said. “We’ve gone down in series. We’ve gone down in games. We’ve always fought back. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
George Springer helped the 34-year-old Verlander out of a jam in the seventh, leaping to make a catch at the center-field wall that robbed Todd Frazier of extra bases with two on and the Astros up 3-0.
“I thought homer,” Verlander said. “That was obviously one of the big turning moments in the game.”
When it was over, Verlander had improved to 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA in five career postseason elimination games. He ran his scoreless streak in such games to 24 innings.
“We hope we all get to see him pitch again,” Hinch said.
After striking out 13 for a complete-game victory in Game 2, Verlander threw another gem. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner scattered five hits and struck out eight to improve to 9-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 67 strikeouts since agreeing to a trade from Detroit that was completed only seconds before the midnight deadline for postseason eligibility.
For the Astros, it was Just-in time.
“I literally love Justin Verlander,” Altuve said. “The way he goes out there makes me feel like I have to go out there and play the same way he’s doing it.”
Brian McCann’s RBI ground-rule double in the fifth ended an 0-for-20 slump before Altuve snapped an 0-for-12 skid with a two-run single later in the inning.
Altuve hit his fourth homer of the postseason when he connected on a solo shot off David Robertson in the eighth.
“I love the way we played today,” Altuve said.
Houston improved to 5-0 at home this postseason after dropping three straight in New York as the Astros chase their second trip to the World Series (2005).