Tony Kemp's unlikely home run gave the Astros fleeting hope in ALCS Game 4
The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox both showed how relentless their offenses could be in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, but one unlikely swing seem destined to turn the series around.
After hitting just six home runs during the regular season, Astros outfielder Tony Kemp muscled up for his first career postseason home run against Red Sox starter Rick Porcello. The home run temporarily gave Houston its first lead of the game, but the hope it stirred proved to be fleeting as the Red Sox recovered to win an epic battle, 8-6, to take a 3-1 series lead.
The @Astros are relentless. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/nxpsUqphoT
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2018
Houston trailed the game 2-0 after one inning, but scored in the second, third and fourth innings, with Kemp’s homer serving as their reason to believe after a controversial replay turned a potential Jose Altuve home run into an out in the first inning.
The Red Sox recaptured the lead on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s latest home run in the sixth inning and never looked back.
For Kemp, that meant a brief stay in the spotlight. But his big moment put him into an elite group of postseason home run hitters.
With Tony Kemp's homer tonight, there have now been 4 players listed at 5-foot-6 or shorter to homer in the playoffs, and 2 of the 4 are on the @astros (also Jose Altuve). The other two are NYY's Phil Rizzuto (1942 & 1951) and KC's Freddie Patek (1978). #NeverSettle
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) October 18, 2018
The home run was also extremely unlikely, and not at all because of Kemp’s statue.
Tony Kemp HR @statcast stats:
89.7 mph exit velo
36 deg launch angleFrom 2015-17, 159 batted balls had an exit velo of 89 mph and 36 deg launch angle. 0 of the 159 were a HR.
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 18, 2018
He hit to just the right spot down the right-field line at Minute Maid Park, seemingly at just the right time too. It just wasn’t meant to be for Houston on this night. But it’s a reminder how relentless, resilient and ridiculously deep the Astros lineup is.
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