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Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu (79) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins during Game 3 of the ALDS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Target Field. Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Astros take commanding lead in Game 3 of ALDS with pair of home runs off Sonny Gray

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 10/10/23

The Astros wasted no time putting their disappointing loss in Game 2 of the ALDS to the Twins behind them by knocking in four runs in the top of the first, including three on a home run by first baseman Jose Abreu.

NO-DOUBTER BY JOSE ABREU!!@astros lead 4-0 in the first!

: FOX pic.twitter.com/0kE5sCKTe6
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 10, 2023

In the top of the fifth, Alex Bregman added a solo shot to extend to lead to 5-0.

Houston is coming off a 6-2 loss in Game 2 but got to Minnesota starting pitcher Sonny Gray early.

The 11-year pitcher was one of the best in avoiding giving up home runs during the regular season.

Per Jayson Stark, Gray didn't give up two home runs in a game in 32 starts but was tagged twice in the first five innings.

That’s 2 HR allowed today by Sonny Gray in the first 5 innings.

How many times in 32 starts this year did he allow 2+ HR?

That would be none.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 10, 2023

Twins reporter Phil Miller reported that Tuesday's Game 3 marked the first time since Gray joined the Twins that the pitcher allowed multiple home runs in a start.

For the first time as a Twin, Sonny Gray has given up two home runs in a game, snapping a streak of 57 starts with one or zero HRs. His 56 straight such starts in regular season is longest streak in Twins history: Dean Chance's 46 straight games with less than two was old record.
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) October 10, 2023

Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara pointed to another stat to show how unlikely Houston's scoring outburst was. Both home runs came off Gray's sweeper pitch, which was basically unhittable during the regular season.

Opponents hit .097 against Sonny Gray's sweeper this season with four extra-base hits. The Astros were 6-for-8 in at-bats ending on Gray's sweeper today with two home runs and a double.
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) October 10, 2023

Abreu's home run is a welcome sign for the 2020 AL MVP. He struggled in his first season with the Astros after signing a three-year, $58.5 deal with them during the offseason.

He posted career lows in batting average (.237) and on-base percentage (.296) and began the postseason 1-for-7 at the plate.

Bregman's home run was the 16th of his postseason career and first since Game 2 of the 2022 World Series.

The Astros have reached the ALCS in each of the past six seasons. Thanks to their bats waking up in a big way in Game 3, Houston is close to making it seven.

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