dallas keuchel
Dallas Keuchel didn't allow a run over six innings against the New York Yankees. Getty

Dallas Keuchel pitched on three days rest on Tuesday night, but sure didn't show. The Houston Astros ace pitched six scoreless innings against the New York Yankees in the American League wild-card game in a 3-0 win at Yankee Stadium.

With the victory, A.J. Hinch's squad advance to face the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night in the best-of-five AL Division Series. It's the deepest the Astros have played in the postseason since their trip to the World Series in 2005.

Keuchel, a favorite for the Cy Young award, allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out seven. The 27-year-old southpaw settled in after the first inning, and didn't allow an extra base hit in the entire outing. After the game, Keuchel said he felt better pitching on three days rest than on a week's rest, claiming his command was better. While he doesn't throw particularly hard, Keuchel dazzled the Yankee bats.

Relievers Tony Sipp, Will Harris and closer Luke Gregerson did the rest, allowing just one walk and no hits over the next three innings. Carlos Beltran, Greg Bird and Didi Gregorius were the only Yankee batters to get hits.

"It's unbelievable," said Keuchel. "To come into [the Yankees] place and play extremely well was more than I could ask for. I didn't think we were going to play that well. I thought we were going to be a little better than average. But to come to Yankee Stadium and play that well was truly remarkable."

The Astros bats scored their first two runs with first-pitch home runs from Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez against Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka. The Astros would score their final run when Jose Altuve singled against star reliever Dellin Bentances to drive in pinch runner Jonathan Villar.

It was the fifth consecutive loss for the Yankees in the postseason.

"Maybe we were out of gas. Maybe we were too banged up," said first baseman Mark Teixeira, who has not played since Aug. 26 due to a small fracture in his leg. "We just kind of hit a wall at the end of the year."