Astros defense uses the Force to support Dallas Keuchel in AL Wild Card win

Working on only three days' rest for the first time in his career in the AL Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser on Tuesday night, Dallas "Bees could be hiding in my beard and you would have no idea" Keuchel was dominant. During his six shutout innings, Keuchel struck out seven with a healthy mix of fastballs and breaking balls down and diving out of the zone. 

Though he was in such control it was as if he had Jedi-mind powers (which makes sense given that the Astros entered to the Imperial March and that Keuchel's beard is kind of like Darth Vader's mask in terms of intimidation factor), occasionally the Yankees were able to get their bats to balls. And that's when Keuchel relied on his defense. Fortunately, they were there to help him out -- unlike those usually thoroughly useless Stormtroopers. 

In the bottom of the fourth, with the Astros leading, 2-0, Alex Rodriguez hit a fly ball into the right-field corner. Would this drop in and perhaps give the Yankees their opening into the game? Nope, because George Springer's long legs carried him over for the catch. 

In the next inning, Greg Bird came up with one out and no one on. He hit a soft fly ball to shallow center field, but Carlos Gomez was ready. Strapping his rocket boosters on, Gomez reached a Statcast™-estimated top speed of 17.8 mph and traveled 68 feet to make the grab. 

No easy hits were to be found. 

And then in the bottom of the sixth, with Keuchel perhaps starting to tire, Chris Young came to the plate with a runner on first and one out. Still trailing by just two runs, the Yankees may have reached their best chance to get back in the game. 

Swinging at Keuchel's 2-0 offering, Young grounded the ball up the middle for a sure single -- or so he probably thought. Instead, Carlos Correa raced over and made a smooth grab before making a sharp flip to Jose Altuve for the out. 

Carlos Beltran would then single before Keuchel got out of the inning. But if Young's ball got through the middle, Beltran's hit would have likely driven in a run.

Instead, the Astros will get to show off their defensive chops and Force powers on Thursday when they head to Kansas City to take on the Royals in the ALDS. Game 1's first pitch will be at 7:37 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.