Altuve​​​​​​​, Javier lead Astros past Rangers in Game 3 to cut series deficit

José Altuve homered, Cristian Javier worked into the sixth inning of another solid post-season start and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 8-5 on Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas, closing to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series.

Texas lost for the first time this post-season after a 7-0 start. Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was gone after four innings in his first outing in more than a month after recovering from a strained shoulder muscle.

Javier set a franchise record for the defending champion Astros by extending his post-season scoreless streak to 20 1/3 innings. That streak ended in the fifth when rookie Josh Jung hit the first of his pair of two-run homers.

Javier improved to 4-0 in his four career post-season starts, allowing just five hits.

"I always try to have the same mentality. These moments are extremely special for me," he said through a translator. "When it comes to the game, just try to stay focused, try and attack the strike zone."

A 26-year-old Dominican right-hander known as "El Reptil," Javier limited the Rangers to two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 innings in his second win in these playoffs. He threw 51 of 85 pitches for strikes.

Cristian Javier has held opponents to a .071 BA through his first four career postseason starts.<br><br>That's the lowest opponent BA in any 4-start span in MLB postseason history. <a href="https://t.co/dyQt4VUl9F">pic.twitter.com/dyQt4VUl9F</a>

Ryan Pressly, the third reliever, worked the ninth for his third save of the playoffs, inducing Jung's game-ending, double-play grounder.

Martin Maldonado, the catcher wearing reptile-skin spikes in reference to his pitcher's nickname, and Yordan Alvarez both had two-run singles for the Astros, who scored