Astros sweep Indians

CLEVELAND (AP) — As his teammates sprayed each other with champagne and beer in Houston’s buzzing clubhouse, ace Justin Verlander stayed clear of the fray and foam while enjoying a cigar.

This wasn’t the time to get soaked. Bigger parties lie ahead.

The Astros are back in an October orbit.

The defending World Series champs advanced to the AL Championship Series for the second straight year — with surprising ease — by completing a division-round sweep of Cleveland on Monday with an 11-3 lashing in Game 3 helped by two key throwing errors from Indians reliever Trevor Bauer.

“No one takes anything for granted here,” Verlander said. “That’s the DNA of the guys in this clubhouse. This team has a propensity to do big things in big spots. This is an atmosphere that breeds winning.

“We have the most complete team in baseball.”

Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run double off Bauer in a three-run seventh inning, and the Astros scored 10 runs in their final three at-bats to turn a series that was supposed to be competitive into a complete rout.

George Springer homered twice, Carlos Correa clubbed a three-run homer for his first hit of the post-season and Houston’s bullpen combined for four scoreless innings, including six straight outs by winner Collin McHugh.

The Indians hit just .144 in the series.