Zack Greinke, Gary Pettis Advance to World Series with Houston Astros

Spokane, Wash. - A pair of former Spokane Indians players are headed to the Fall Classic after the Houston Astros stunned the Tampa Bay Rays in a thrilling seven-game ALCS—becoming just the second team ever to rally from an 0-3 series deficit. Starting pitcher Zack Grienke ('02) and third base coach Gary Pettis ('82) will aim to guide the Astros to the second World Series title in franchise history when they meet the winner of the NLCS matchup between Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Greinke made one appearance for the Astros in the ALCS, tossing six innings of two-run ball in Game 4 to help Houston stave off elimination. Overall, the 36-year-old is 1-0 with a 4.30 ERA in three appearances this postseason. Originally the sixth overall pick in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals, Greinke appeared in a pair of games for the Spokane Indians that summer, and reached the majors just two years later. The mercurial right-hander won the AL CY Young Award in 2009 and has earned six Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers, but is still looking for hi s first World Series title.

Pettis has been Houston's third base coach since 2015 and won a title with the team in 2017, though the 62-year-old is not currently with the Astros while he receives treatment for multiple myeloma. A speedy and defensively-talented outfielder, Pettis won five Gold Gloves and stole 354 bases over an 11-year MLB career with the California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres. He hit .288 and swiped 53 bags for the Spokane Indians in 1982 before earning an end-of-season promotion to the Angels. Pettis' son, Dante, is a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers after being drafted out of the University of Washington, while his daughter, Kyler, is an actress best known for her role on Days of Our Lives.

Houston finished the regular season with a sub-.500 record (29-31) but defeated the Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card Round and Oakland A's in the ALDS before their historic comeback against the Rays. This will mark the fourth World Series appearance for the Astros, second consecutive, and third in four years, with the team's lone title coming in 2017. Every World Series winner since 2013 has featured at least one Indians alum, including hitting coach Kevin Long ('99) with the Washington Nationals last year.

About the Spokane Indians - The Spokane Indians are the Short Season Class "A" affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play at Avista Stadium. The Spokane Indians Team Store is available for online orders and curbside pickup.