MBL:Astros defeat Mariners with Jeremy Pena's home run in the 18th inning.

MBL:Astros defeat Mariners with Jeremy Pena's home run in the 18th inning.

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The Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 1-0 on Saturday to advance to the American League Championship Series for the sixth consecutive season thanks to a home run by Jeremy Pena in the 18th inning.

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Pena hit his first playoff home run after starting the game 0 for 7 by driving a Penn Murfee slider deep to left-center field.

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The 18 innings matched the longest game in playoff history.

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"That was a long game, man. However, you must remain focused, attempt to string together strong at-bats, "added Pena. I simply tried to keep the baseball inside and drove it into the space.

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Houston finished a three-game sweep in the ALDS, ruining Seattle's first home playoff participation since 2001.

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The Astros' string of six straight appearances in the ALCS is the second-longest since the competition's inception in 1969 and the longest in American League history.

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In Houston's first two games, Yordan Alvarez received the huge hits, but it was Pena who created the conditions for Alvarez's opportunities.