Astros, Dodgers win to advance in MLB play-offs
NEW YORK: Defending champions Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced in the Major League Baseball play-offs with lopsided road triumphs on 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 play-off 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 hosts Yankees.
“It was a f un 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 winners advancing to the World Series.
Andrew Benintendi smacked a threerun double to pace a seven-run fourth inning for the Red Sox, who led New York 2-1 and could advance by winning today, Thai time.
The Astros outlasted the Dodgers in a seventh-game showdown to win last year’s World Series for their first championship and could yet face a rematch with Los Angeles.
The Dodgers eliminated the Braves in four games.
Los Angeles will face the Milwaukee Brewers starting on Saturday, Thai time, in the National League Championship Series to decide the other World Series berth.