The Houston Astros have climbed all the way back from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7 in the American League Championship Series after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 in Game 6.

George Springer's two-run single keyed a four-run fifth inning and the Astros added on three more runs, holding off a late rally by the Rays to become just the second team to ever force a deciding game after trailing 3-0.

Framber Valdez picked up the win, pitching six solid innings while Blake Snell took the loss with Ryan Pressly picked up his second save of the series.

Astros force Game 7 behind Valdez, Springer

Valdez became the first pitcher in franchise history to strike out seven batters through three innings. He gave up an RBI double to Willy Adames in the top of the fourth as Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead.

The Rays carried that lead into the top of the fifth until the Astros broke out. Yuli Gurriel walked followed by a single from Aldemys Diaz. Curiously, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash pulled Snell, who had been cruising up until this point.

Diego Castillo was brought in and Martin Maldonado sacrificed the runners to second and third before Springer beat the shift with a single that scored Gurriel and Diaz to put Houston ahead 2-1. Jose Altuve drove the next pitch down the left-field line for a run-scoring double and Carlos Correa singled him in to cap off the inning.

Kyle Tucker made it 5-1 with a solo home run off of Shane McClanahan in the top of the sixth. Tampa Bay put runners on first second in the bottom of the inning, but Valdez got Brandon Lowe to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Altuve singled in the seventh, took second on a passed ball and scored on a run-scoring single from Michael Brantley. Correa doubled and Tucker later made the score 7-1 with a sacrifice fly as the Astros seemed to be cruising.

Game 2 star Manuel Margot homered in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to 7-2 off of Andre Scrubb. He would go deep, a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth off of Blake Taylor, to make it 7-4. Closer Ryan Pressly gave up a one-out single to Yoshi Tsutsugo, but got Mike Brosseau to hit into a game-ending double play.

Up next

The deciding Game 7 will see a rematch of Game 3 with Lance McCullers Jr. starting for Houston while Charlie Morton goes for Tampa Bay. First pitch is at 8:37pm.