Astros, Dodgers win to advance in playoffs

Red Sox roll

NEW YORK, Oct 9, (AFP): Defending champions Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced in the Major League Baseball playoffs with lopsided road triumphs Monday while the Boston Red Sox routed the New York Yankees.

George Springer smashed two solo home runs in Houston’s 11-3 romp over the Cleveland Indians, while Manny Machado belted a three-run homer and a run-scoring double to power the Dodgers over the Atlanta Braves by a score of 6-2.

And Boston’s Brock Holt hit for the first playoff game cycle – a single, double, triple and homer – and drove in five runs as the Red Sox hammered out 18 hits in a 16-1 humbling of the host Yankees.

“It was a fun night,” Holt said. “Offensively, we were clicking on all cylinders. Tonight is a night I will remember for a long time.”

Houston completed a sweep of Cleveland in the best-of-five American League division series, holding the Tribe to six runs on 13 hits over three games.

“It’s awesome, a great day for us as a team,” Springer said. “I’m happy to be heading home.”

The Astros will face either the Red Sox or Yankees in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series with the winner advancing to the World Series.

Andrew Benintendi smacked a three-run double to pace a seven-run fourth inning for the Red Sox, who led New York 2-1 and could advance by winning Tuesday.

“This was a special group from day one,” Holt said. “As tonight shows, we can do some special things.”

The Astros outlasted the Dodgers in a seventh-game showdown to win last year’s

Boston Red Sox’s Rafael Devers connects for a base hit against the New York Yankees during the second inning of Game 3 of baseball’s American League Division Series

on Oct 8 in New York. (AP)