Top 5 Facts From the 2020 AL Championship Series

After the Tampa Bay Rays came out hot, the Astros fought their way back into the series with the help of their heavy hitters. However, Tampa Bay Rays’ young studs and solid pitching led them to victory in an electrifying seven-game series with a trip to the World Series on the line. Here are the top 5 sports facts to know from the 2020 American League Championship Series:

Pitching Under Pressure

Charlie Morton made history with his clutch pitching.

Charlie Morton now has 4 wins in winner-take-all games, twice as many as any other pitcher in postseason history
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 18, 2020

Charlie Morton joins John Smoltz (1991) as the only pitchers ever with MULTIPLE career starts of 5+ scoreless in a Game 7. pic.twitter.com/RlFQvV3CfE
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 18, 2020

Charlie Morton is the 5th pitcher since ER became official in both leagues in 1913 to have 5 consecutive postseason starts allowing 1 ER or fewer.

Only Curt Schilling (6) had a longer such streak. pic.twitter.com/ESlXIYCvMd
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 18, 2020

#PlayerOfTheDay (10/17/20) - SP Charlie Morton, TB
FACTS TO KNOW:
- 4 winner-take-all wins are 2x more than any pitcher ever
- 2nd SP ever w/ multiple Game 7s of 5+ scoreless IP
- 4-0, 0.46 ERA in 4 career winner-take-all GS
- 3-0, 0.57 ERA, 17 K/4 BB in 15.2 IP in 2020 playoffs https://t.co/cITHo274Tt
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 18, 2020

Rookie Dominance

Randy Arozarena smashed rookie records en route to earning the MVP of the ALCS.

Rakes All Night Day Year.

The first rookie position player to EVER win LCS MVP.

(MLB x @chevrolet) pic.twitter.com/v8Gs6VhrZC
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2020

Randy Arozarena's now has 7 home runs this postseason, the most ever by a rookie.

He trails only Barry Bonds, Carlos Beltrán and Nelson Cruz (all with 8) for the most ever in a single postseason. pic.twitter.com/piCMKTZISl
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 18, 2020

#Rays Randy Arozarena is a career .839 slugger in the #postseason – highest in MLB history.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) October 18, 2020

Randy Arozarena's record-setting 7th home run by a rookie in a single postseason gave @RaysBaseball a 2-0 lead in Game 7.

He is the first rookie with a go-ahead home run in a Game 7 since Miguel Cabrera's home run in Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS gave the Marlins a 3-0 lead.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 18, 2020

Rookies to win LCS MVP

Mike Boddicker (Orioles) 1983 ALCS
Livan Hernandez (Marlins) 1997 NLCS
Michael Wacha (Cardinals) 2013 NLCS
Randy Arozarena (#RaysUp) 2020 ALCS*

*First rookie position player to win the award pic.twitter.com/dURHJdNmre
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 18, 2020

HOU's Historic Hitting

Houston Astros made some marks in the record books with their bats.

Carlos Correa now has 3 career walk-off hits in the postseason, tying David Ortiz for most all-time.

There have been 3 walk-off home runs in the last 2 postseasons, all of them have been by the Astros (2 by Correa, 1 by Jose Altuve). pic.twitter.com/kA2W7uNVT9
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 16, 2020

Carlos Correa has the most postseason RBIs (48) of all-time among any player before turning 27 years old pic.twitter.com/QgpASvF8o7
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 17, 2020

#Astros Jose Altuve has 18 home runs in 60 career #postseason game – most in MLB history by a player through their first 60 playoff games.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) October 15, 2020

Fewest career #postseason games to 18 home runs:#Astros Jose Altuve - 60#Astros George Springer - 60
Mickey Mantle - 65
Reggie Jackson - 68
Albert Pujols - 70
Manny Ramirez - 77
Bernie Williams - 99
Derek Jeter - 124
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) October 15, 2020

Carlos Correa has tied the MLB record for the most HRs in a single postseason by a SS (6) pic.twitter.com/lmd5QZMqhd
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 16, 2020

Epic 3-0 Comeback

Although the Houston Astros were not able to advance, they put up a relentless fight in the series.

The #Astros are the 2nd team in MLB history to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-7 series and force a Game 7 (2004 #RedSox) pic.twitter.com/UX22kLAtqI
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 17, 2020

Astros are just the 4th team in MLB history to force a Game 6 in a best-of-7 series when down 3-0, joining:

Braves in 1998 NLCS
Mets in 1999 NLCS
Red Sox in 2004 ALCS
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 16, 2020

Rookie Impact

From Randy Arozarena to Cristian Javier, rookies made their imprint on this series.

Since Tampa Bay also used 3 rookie pitchers of their own in Game 5, it broke the MLB record for the most rookie pitchers to appear in a single postseason game (8) pic.twitter.com/wRQ59cMbFo
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 16, 2020

Pete Fairbanks is the first rookie to save a Game 7 since David Price in the 2008 ALCS.

Both sent @RaysBaseball to the World Series.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 18, 2020