Jeremy Peña‘s solo home run to lead off the top of the 18th inning — the first run of the game for either team — sent the Houston Astros to their sixth consecutive ALCS with a sweep of the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
The game tied a major league record for the longest game by inning in MLB postseason history.
It also featured 498 total pitches with a postseason-record 42 combined strikeouts thrown by 18 pitchers.
Peña had been 0-for-7 prior to his blast off Mariners reliever Penn Murfee.
Luis Garcia pitched five innings of relief, striking out six, to earn the victory for Houston.
Seattle was hosting its first playoff game in 21 years.
